Fire Safety
Two Minutes or Less
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, when there is a fire you may have as little as two minutes or less to safely escape your home from the time your smoke detectors begin to go off. If there is a fire in your home it may be hard to see, difficult to breath and temperatures will be hot. The best thing you can do to keep your family safe is prepare and plan ahead.
Have Working Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms save lives. A smoke alarm should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including basements. Check your smoke alarms each month to make sure they are working properly, and when a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. You should change your smoke detector batteries twice a year, and you should replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
Plan Your Escape
Every second counts. Your family should know all of the different ways out of your home and every room should have two exits. Make sure doors and windows are not blocked so that you can make a quick escape. Draw a floor plan of your house to identify exits and escape routes with your family. Practice your home fire escape plan often and pick a meeting place where everyone knows to go when evacuating the house. Your meeting place should be outside, a safe distance away from the home, and should be visible to first responders.
Close Before You Doze
Make sure all of the bedrooms doors are closed before going to sleep. If there is a fire in your home, a closed door can help prevent smoke from entering your room and can buy you time.
Grease Fires
Cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires in the United States. If you ever experience a grease fire, put a lid on it until the fire is extinguished. Never pour water on a grease fire.