Fire Prevention > How Safe Is Your Home

Do you have these safety items in your home?

• Working smoke detectors in all bedrooms, outside the bedroom areas and at least one detector on each level of the house. Have you tested the detector in the last month?
• ABC or ABCD fire extinguisher in the kitchen and/or workshop?
• Emergency exit plan, with two ways out from each room and a meeting place outdoors?

Living Room, Family Room, Den, Bedrooms

• Matches and lighters stored out of reach of children.
• Use only large ashtrays (Small ashtrays are too dangerous.)
• Empty ashtrays frequently (but make sure that all signs of heat and burning are gone).
• Fireplace kept screened and cleaned regularly.
• Replace worn or frayed appliance cords and extension cords.
• No extension cords run under rugs or carpets or looped over nails and other sharp objects that could cause them to fray.
• Sufficient air space around TV, stereo, and other electronic equipment to prevent overheating.
• Heaters kept three feet away from curtains, furniture, and papers.

Garage, Storage Areas

• No newspapers or other rubbish stored near furnace, water heater, or other heat source.
• No oily, greasy rags stored, except when kept in labeled and sealed nonglass containers (preferably metal).
• No gasoline stored in the house or basement (It should be stored away from the house in an outbuilding and only in safe cans that have flame arresters and pressure-relief valves.).
• No flammable liquids stored near workbench, pilot light, or in anything other than labeled, sealed metal containers (This includes varnish, paint remover, paint thinner, contact adhesives, cleaning fluids.).
• No overloaded outlets or extension cords.
• All fuses of the correct size.
• ABC or ABCD fire extinguisher in the garage and/or workshop

Dangerous Actions

• Don't wear loose-sleeve shirts, blouses, skirts or robes while cooking. Loose clothing may catch fire. Wear close-fitting sleeves.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Never play with matches or lighters.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire in the grill or add lighter fluid to an already-started fire.
• Don't smoke while fueling a motor vehicle, boat or a gas-powered tool like a lawn mower.
• Don't smoke in bed, in a chair, or on the sofa when tired, drinking or taking medication.
• Never spray aerosols while smoking or near a space heater, range, candle or other ignition source.
• Don't smoke while using a cleaning fluid, paint thinner, or other flammable liquid.
• Never use a cigarette lighter after spilling flammable fluid on your hands or clothing.
• Never reach over a stove or climb onto a range to get something stored above it.
• Never lean against a range for warmth or stand too close to a heater or fireplace.
• Never let a small child blow out a match.
• Never use a lighted match, lighter, or candle to illuminate a dark area, such as a closet.

Correct any problems NOW.

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• Working smoke detectors in all bedrooms, outside the bedroom areas and at least one detector on each level of the house. Have you tested the detector in the last month?
• ABC or ABCD fire extinguisher in the kitchen and/or workshop?
• Emergency exit plan, with two ways out from each room and a meeting place outdoors?

Living Room, Family Room, Den, Bedrooms

• Matches and lighters stored out of reach of children.
• Use only large ashtrays (Small ashtrays are too dangerous.)
• Empty ashtrays frequently (but make sure that all signs of heat and burning are gone).
• Fireplace kept screened and cleaned regularly.
• Replace worn or frayed appliance cords and extension cords.
• No extension cords run under rugs or carpets or looped over nails and other sharp objects that could cause them to fray.
• Sufficient air space around TV, stereo, and other electronic equipment to prevent overheating.
• Heaters kept three feet away from curtains, furniture, and papers.

Garage, Storage Areas

• No newspapers or other rubbish stored near furnace, water heater, or other heat source.
• No oily, greasy rags stored, except when kept in labeled and sealed nonglass containers (preferably metal).
• No gasoline stored in the house or basement (It should be stored away from the house in an outbuilding and only in safe cans that have flame arresters and pressure-relief valves.).
• No flammable liquids stored near workbench, pilot light, or in anything other than labeled, sealed metal containers (This includes varnish, paint remover, paint thinner, contact adhesives, cleaning fluids.).
• No overloaded outlets or extension cords.
• All fuses of the correct size.
• ABC or ABCD fire extinguisher in the garage and/or workshop

Dangerous Actions

• Don't wear loose-sleeve shirts, blouses, skirts or robes while cooking. Loose clothing may catch fire. Wear close-fitting sleeves.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Never play with matches or lighters.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire in the grill or add lighter fluid to an already-started fire.
• Don't smoke while fueling a motor vehicle, boat or a gas-powered tool like a lawn mower.
• Don't smoke in bed, in a chair, or on the sofa when tired, drinking or taking medication.
• Never spray aerosols while smoking or near a space heater, range, candle or other ignition source.
• Don't smoke while using a cleaning fluid, paint thinner, or other flammable liquid.
• Never use a cigarette lighter after spilling flammable fluid on your hands or clothing.
• Never reach over a stove or climb onto a range to get something stored above it.
• Never lean against a range for warmth or stand too close to a heater or fireplace.
• Never let a small child blow out a match.
• Never use a lighted match, lighter, or candle to illuminate a dark area, such as a closet.

Correct any problems NOW.

<< Back to Fire Prevention