Would you know what to do if a fire started in your home? Would
your kids? Take the time now to review fire safety facts and tips
so your family will be prepared in the event of a fire emergency in
your home.
Fire Prevention
Of course, the best way to practice fire safety is to make sure
a fire doesn't break out in the first place. That means you
should always be aware of potential hazards in your home. Start by
keeping these tips in mind.
Check all electrical appliances, cords, and outlets
- Are your electrical appliances in good condition, without
loose or frayed cords or plugs?
- Are your outlets overloaded with plugs from the TV, computer,
printer, video game system, and stereo?
- Are you overusing an extension cord?
- Do the light fixtures in your home contain bulbs that are the
correct wattage?
- Does your home contain GFCIs (ground-fault circuit
interrupters) and/or AFCIs (arc-fault circuit interrupters),
which prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty
circuits?
Look around your house for potential problems. And unless
you're a trained electrician, be careful about do-it-yourself
electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires are
caused by improper installation of electrical devices.
Other tips:
- Replace or professionally repair any appliances that spark,
smell unusual, or overheat.
- Don't run electrical wires under rugs.
- Make sure lamps and night-lights are not touching bedspreads,
drapes, or other fabrics.
- Use caution when using electric blankets.
- Don't let kids use kitchen appliances by themselves and
supervise any art or science projects that involve electrical
devices.
-
Cover any outlets
that are not in use with plastic safety covers if you have
toddlers or young children in your home.
Be especially vigilant about portable heaters
The number of residential fires always goes up during colder
months, peaking between December and February. Portable space
heaters substantially contribute to this increase. Before plugging
in your space heater, make sure you know how to use it safely:
- Carefully read the directions for its use.
- Never place a space heater where a child or pet could
accidentally knock it over.
- Never place a space heater too close to a bed, especially a
child's bed.
- Keep newspapers, magazines, and fabrics from curtains,
clothes, or bedding away from space heaters, radiators, and
fireplaces.
- Heaters should be at least 3 feet from anything
flammable.
Be careful in the kitchen
Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires in
the United States? The kitchen is rife with ways for a fire to
start: food left unsupervised on a stove or in an oven or
microwave; grease spills; a dish towel too close to the burner; a
toaster or toaster oven flare-up; a coffee pot accidentally left
on.
Always supervise kids while cooking and practice safe cooking
habits - like turning all pot handles in so they can't be
accidentally knocked over and not wearing loose-fitting clothing
that could catch fire around the stove.
Check the fireplace
Fireplaces should be kept clean and covered with a screen to
keep sparks from jumping out. Only wood should be burned in the
fireplace - paper and other materials can escape while burning and
ignite nearby items. Never leave a fire burning unattended and make
sure a fire is completely extinguished before leaving the house or
going to bed. Have the chimney professionally cleaned once a
year.
Beware of cigarettes
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA),
cigarettes are the No. 1 cause of fire deaths in the United States
and Canada, killing about 1,000 people per year. Most are started
when ashes or butts fall into couches and chairs. If you smoke, be
especially careful around upholstered furniture, never smoke in
bed, and be sure cigarettes are completely out before you toss them
into the trash.
Never let kids play with matches and lighters
You've heard it again and again, but children playing with
matches are still the leading cause of fire-related deaths and
injuries for kids younger than 5. Always keep matches and lighters
out of children's reach. Store flammable materials such as
gasoline, kerosene, and flammable cleaning supplies outside of your
home and away from kids.
Use candles safely
As decorative candles become more popular, candle fires are on
the rise. If you light candles, keep them out of reach of kids and
pets, away from curtains and furniture, and extinguish them before
you go to bed. Make sure candles are in sturdy holders made of
non-flammable material that won't tip over. Don't let older
kids and teens use candles unsupervised in their rooms.
Be aware of holiday dangers
Around the holidays, there are even more potential fire hazards
to think about. If you use a real Christmas tree in your home, make
sure to water it daily - electric lights strung on a dried-out tree
are a recipe for disaster. All lights and lighted window ornaments
should be inspected every year to make sure that cords are not worn
or frayed, and all candles should be used with care. According to
the NFPA, the number of fires started by candles nearly doubles
during the month of December.
Household Tips
Make sure all smoke alarms are in working order
It's a fact - having a smoke alarm in the house cuts your
risk of dying in a fire
inhalf
. Almost 60% of all fatal residential fires occur in homes that
don't have smoke alarms, so this may be the single most
important thing you can do to keep your family safe from fires.
If your home doesn't have smoke alarms, now is the time to
install them on every level of your home and in each bedroom. If
possible, choose one with a 10-year lithium battery. If your smoke
alarm uses regular batteries, remember to replace them every year
(hint: change your batteries when you change your clock back from
Daylight Saving Time in the fall). Test your smoke alarms monthly,
and be sure your kids are familiar with the sound of the alarm.
Because smoke rises, smoke detectors should always be placed on
ceilings or high on walls. If a smoke detector near the kitchen
goes off while you're cooking,
do not
take the battery out of it - you may forget to replace it. Open the
doors and windows instead. Or you might consider installing a
rate-of-rise heat detector for places like the kitchen, where smoke
or steam from cooking are likely to cause false alarms. These
alarms can sense when the temperature reaches a set critical point
or when it rises by more than a certain number of degrees a
minute.
If you're having a new home built or remodeling an older
home, you may also want to consider adding a home sprinkler system.
These are already found in many apartment buildings and
dormitories.
Keep fire extinguishers handy
Be prepared for any accidents by having fire extinguishers
strategically placed around your house - at least one on each floor
and in the kitchen (this one should be an all-purpose extinguisher,
meaning it can be used on grease and electrical fires), the
basement, the garage, or workshop area. Keep them out of reach of
children.
Fire extinguishers are best used when a fire is contained in a
small area, like a wastebasket, and when the fire department has
already been called. The NFPA says to remember the word
PASS
when operating an extinguisher:
- P
ull the pin. Release the lock with the nozzle pointing away from
you.
- A
im low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- S
queeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- S
weep the nozzle from side to side.
The best time to learn how to use the fire extinguisher is
now
, before you ever need it (if you have any questions, the local
fire department can help). Fire extinguishers have gauges on them
indicating when they need to be replaced and should be checked
regularly to make sure they're still functional.
If you're ever in doubt about whether to use an extinguisher
on a fire, don't try it. Instead, leave the house immediately
and call the fire department.
Plan escape routes
Planned escape routes are a necessity, especially if a fire were
to occur during the night. Go through each room in your house and
think about the possible exits. You should have in your mind two
escape routes from each room, in case one is blocked by fire.
Inspect the room to make sure that furniture and other objects are
not blocking doorways or windows. Make sure that the windows in
every room are easy to open and are not painted over or nailed shut
- remember, these may be your only way out in a fire.
If you live in an apartment building, make sure any safety bars
on windows are removable in an emergency. Be sure to know the
locations of the closest stairwells or fire escapes and where they
lead.
If your house is more than one story tall or if you live above
the ground floor of an apartment building, an escape ladder is an
important safety feature. You should have one escape ladder made of
fire-safe material (aluminum, not rope) in each upper-story bedroom
that is occupied by a person who is capable of using it.
Like fire extinguishers, escape ladders should be operated by
adults only. The ladder must be approved by an independent testing
laboratory, its length must be appropriate for your home, and it
must support the weight of the heaviest adult in the house.
Be sure any
babysitters
in your home know all escape routes and plans in case of a
fire.
Teach children the facts about fire
Unfortunately, many kids will try to hide from a fire, often in
a closet, under a bed, or in a corner. But if taught basic fire
facts, they'd be better able to protect themselves. Teach your
kids that fires spread quickly, that most fire-related deaths are
not from
burns
but from smoke inhalation, and that dangerous fumes can overcome a
person in just a few minutes.
Kids should learn to:
- cover their mouths and noses with a
moist towel
or an article of clothing to keep out dangerous fumes while
evacuating
- crawl
under
the smoke to safety, staying as low to the ground as possible
(smoke always rises)
- touch any door (not the doorknob) to see if it is hot, and if
it is,
not
to open it - find another exit
- locate the nearest stairway marked "Fire Exit" if
they live in an apartment building, or a fire escape if the
stairway isn't accessible - kids should know to always avoid
elevators during a fire
- never stop to take personal belongings or pets or to make a
phone call (even to 911) while evacuating
- never
go back into a burning building once safely outside
- stop, drop, and roll
to extinguish flames if an article of clothing catches on
fire
Kids should also always be dressed for bed in flame-retardant
sleepwear.
Practice fire drills at home
Kids have fire drills at school and adults have them at work.
Why shouldn't you have them at home, too? Fires are frightening
and can cause panic. By rehearsing different scenarios, your family
will be less likely to waste precious time trying to figure out
what to do. Discuss and rehearse the escape routes you've
planned for each room of your home. Designate a meeting place
outside your house or apartment building that is a safe distance
away (a mailbox, a fence, or even a distinctive-looking tree will
do) where everyone can be accounted for after they escape.
Then, every so often, test your plan. Use your finger to set off
the smoke detector and let everyone know it's time for a fire
drill. See if everyone can evacuate your home and gather outside
within 3 minutes - the time it can take for an entire house to go
up in flames.
Being prepared is the best way to protect your family from a
fire. So know the rules of fire prevention, stock your home with
fire-safety items, and make sure your kids know what to do in a
fire. A few minutes of planning now may save lives later on.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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