Fire Safety

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Fires claim 5,000 lives every year.
Home fires are the leading cause of injury among children in one fifth of all U.S. states. For children 1-4, the number of deaths in home fires exceeds the number of children who die due to cancer. Help your family and home be fire and burn safe by making sure...

Your Family Practices Fire Safety

Develop a fire-escape plan for your home and practice it with your family. Remind everyone to crawl low under smoke. Remember, a child's instinct is to hide from smoke and fire, so decide on a safe meeting place outside of your home where your family will gather after they have escaped. Teach your children how to call for help in an emergency. Keep the emergency phone number and your home address next to all telephones. Practice "Stop, Drop, and Roll" procedures with your family.

Your Home is Fire Proofed

Install and maintain smoke detectors--check the batteries monthly. Keep any heat source (including lit cigarettes) at least three feet from curtains, furniture, or anything that can burn. Dispose of cigarette materials properly.

Replace electrical cords if they are frayed or cracked. Do not overload electrical outlets. Use safety plugs in unused electrical outlets. Store flammable liquids away from heat sources. Keep lighters and matches away from children. Keep appliances free of grease and crumbs.

Burn Safety Precautions are Observed

Turn pan handles away from edges of stove. Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. Store electrical appliances safely away form the bath tub and kitchen sink. Unplug electrical appliances before working with them. Keep your water heater set below 120 degrees and test bath water before putting your child into the tub.

Children with Special Needs are Protected

Contact your local fire department and EMS provider to let them know that you have a child with special needs in your household. Together, determine proper safety precautions to observe, including: proper evacuation plans, medical needs, awareness of disability and possible reactions to fire or other emergencies, and possible training activities for the child.

Fire Safety Checklist

Make your home fire and burn safe!

Install and maintain smoke detectors.
Check smoke detector batteries monthly.
Post emergency numbers close to telephone.
Keep any heat source at least three feet from curtains, furniture, or anything that can burn.
Turn pan handles away from the edge of the stove to prevent burns from accidental spills.
Keep appliances free of grease and crumbs.
Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Store electrical appliances safely away from bath tub and kitchen sink.
Unplug electrical appliances before working on them.
Replace electrical cords if they are frayed or cracked.
Do not overload electrical outlets.
Use safety plugs in unused electrical outlets.
Do not smoke in bed and dispose of smoking material properly.
Keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
Keep lighters and matches away from children.
Test bath water before getting into the tub or putting your child into the tub to prevent accidental burns.
Keep your water heater set below 120 degrees. Children's skin can scald in seconds.
Store flammable liquids.