Fire Safety

There was a tragic fire this morning in the city where I live that killed 2 precious children, ages 4 and 7.  The investigators did not find any working smoke detectors in the house.  Right now, the cause of that fire is unknown, but in the United States, cooking is the main cause of home fires. Cigarettes are also a big risk - they are the leading cause of fire deaths.

Here are some fire safety do's and don'ts:

 • Don't leave the stove or oven unattended when they are on.

 • Don't let children use kitchen appliances unsupervised.

 • Don't smoke in bed.

 • Do make sure your smoke alarms work.

 • Do have fire extinguishers on every floor and in your kitchen.

 • Do have an escape plan.

 • Do make sure your electrical appliances and cords are in good condition.

Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.  They can warn you at the very beginning of a fire and give you that precious extra time to get out of your house should there be a fire.  Check the batteries frequently.  A good habit to get into is to replace the battery twice a year—when you change your clocks in the spring at the start of Daylight Saving Time and in the fall, when we switch back to standard time.  For a detailed guide to smoke alarms, check out Smoke Alarms from the U.S. Fire Administration.

Some city fire departments offer reduced price or free smoke alarms and will install them for you so call the non-emergency number for your local fire department for details.

Here are some other helpful links to check out for more information:

Heating Fire Safety (United States Fire Administration)

Bedroom Fire Safety (United States Fire Administration)

Home Electrical Fire Prevention (United States Fire Administration)

Escape Planning (United States Fire Administration)

Fire Extinguishers (National Fire Protection Association)

Portable Fire Extinguishers (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Fire Safety for Older Adults and Their Caregivers (United States Fire Administration)