Fire Safety Essentials

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Smoke Alarms

According to the United States Fire Administration, three out of every five home fire deaths result from fires where ther were no working smoke alarms.

Some important things to consider when buying your next smoke detector:

• Choose interconnected smoke alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Put alarms on every level of the home.
• Make sure your smoke alarms work. Your family is not safe if they can’t hear the smoke alarms.
• Test smoke alarms every month and replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries at least once every year.
• Smoke alarms do not last forever. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years.
• When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe.

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Fire Escape Plans

If there is a fire in your home, you could have less than 2 minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds.

In the event of a home fire, every second counts. Follow the tips below to make sure you can escape:

• Make a fire escape plan. Draw a map of each level of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the map with everyone who lives with you.
• Plan two ways out of every room. Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
• Make a fire escape plan around your abilities. If you need to use a wheelchair or a cane, make sure you can get to it easily and get out quickly. If you wear hearing aids or eyeglasses, put them next to your bed while you are sleeping.
• Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Practice your fire escape plan by having a home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the home.
• If there is a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

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Home Fire Sprinklers

Installing sprinklers and smoke alarms in your home increases your chance of surviving a fire by more than 82 percent.

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