Fire Safety Tips & Smoke Detectors

Fire safety tips

• Make sure all family members know how to dial 911 in case of an emergency.
• Have at least two exits from every room in your home. Invest in fire escape ladders for upstairs bedrooms.
• Go through a practice drill every six months. With the whole family, practice what to do in a fire emergency.
• Assign a tree or other landmark where family members can meet after they escape the burning house.
• Teach children never to go back in the house. Train them not to hide from fire under beds, in closets or other places where rescuers cannot easily find them.

Smoke Detectors

The importance of smoke detectors cannot be overestimated. Most fires occur at night, while people sleep. The toxic gases from a fire can numb your senses, disorient you and kill you while you sleep. For this reason, smoke detectors are a must.

Install a detector in every bedroom and keep one centrally located on each floor of your home. Hallways and kitchens are especially good locations for smoke detectors.

• Because smoke rises, mount smoke detectors either on the ceiling or high on a wall (6-12 inches from the ceiling).
• Don't install smoke detectors by doors, windows or vents, where drafts could affect their performance.
• Test and clean your smoke detector batteries about once a month. You'll need to replace batteries about once a year.
• Never paint your smoke detector unit -- it might clog its smoke detecting sensors.
• Gently vacuum your smoke detector and keep it free of dust and other foreign particles that could hinder its function.