SAFETY TIPS:

Fire Safety in the Home
Make a home escape plan - and practice it.

You can survive a fire in your home if you know what to do when you hear the smoke alarm.

Plan your escape:

• Draw a floor plan of your home. Show two ways out of each room.
• Agree on an outside meeting place in front of your home where everyone will gather after they've escaped.
• Practice! Hold home fire drills. Make them realistic by pretending some exits are blocked by smoke or fire.
• Provide alternatives for anyone with a disability.
• A fire drill is not a race.
• Leave quickly, but don't run.

Be Prepared:

• Can everyone in your home unlock and open windows?
• If your windows have security bars, are they equipped with inside quick-release devices.
• Can children reach and open all door and window locks?
• Test your smoke alarms once a month.
• Replace alarm batteries once a year.
• Replace any alarm that is 10 years old.
• Consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system in your home.

Escape Tips:

• Close doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.
• If you have to escape through smoke, crawl, keeping your head one to two feet (30 to 60 centimeters) above the floor, where the air will be cleanest.
• Test doorknobs and spaces around the door with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it's cool, open it slowly. Slam it shut if smoke pours through.
• Get out and stay out!
• Once you escape a fire, don't go back inside for any reason!

If you live in an apartment building . . . .

• Learn and practice your building's evacuation plan.
• If you hear a fire alarm, leave immediately.
• Use the stairs - never use elevators during a fire.
• Know the location of all building exits and fire alarms.
• If exits are locked or blocked, report the problem to your building's management.