Take steps to prevent fires
Research shows that families may have as little as three minutes to escape a home fire. October is fire safety month and the national, nonprofit Home Safety Council is partnering with the National Fire Sprinkler Association to raise awareness of critical steps every family should take to prepare for and protect against home fires.
Home fire sprinklers provide the ultimate protection against home fires, yet recent research from the Home Safety Council revealed that only 8 percent of adults in major cities across America live in homes protected by fire sprinklers and 41 percent of those surveyed didn’t realize that fire sprinklers are an option for their home.
Top 10 Fire Prevention Tips
1. Put smoke alarms inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries once a year.
2. Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect — hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
3. Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
4. Keep grills at least 10 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
5. Cool a burned area with cool water and seek medical attention for serious burns.
6. Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.
7. Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
8. Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
9. Space heaters need space. Keep them at least 3 feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
10. It is best not to keep any gasoline at home. If you must keep some, use a special safety container and store it in an outdoor shed away from your home.
Information courtesy Home Safety Council