Fire Safety

• Plan two escape routes out of each room.
• Teach family members to stay low to the ground when escaping fire.
• Teach family members to never open doors that are hot.  In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand.  If it is hot, do not open the door.  Find another way out.
• Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household members in case of a fire
• Do not overload outlets.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher (5lb, A-B-C type)
• Consider installing home sprinklers
• Have collapsible ladders on each upper floor of your house.
• Install smoke detectors. Use the test button to test your smoke alarms once a month.  If necessary, replace the batteries immediately.  make sure children know what your smoke alarm sounds like.
• If you have batter-operated smoke alarms, replace the batteries at least once a year.  Available data shows that batteries will last at least a year, so more frequent replacement is not necessary.
• Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replacing them every 10 years is a joint recommendation by the National Fire Protection Association and the US Consumer Products Safety Commission.
• Look at your fire extinguisher to ensure it is properly charged.  Fire extinguishers will not work properly if they are not properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check proper pressure.  Follow manufacturer's instructions for replacement or recharging fire extinguishers.  If the unit is low on pressure, damaged or corroded, replace it or have it professionally serviced.