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Home Fire Safety Checklist
A fire can occur in any part of your home!
Use this checklist to make a fire-safety check of your home.
Practice An E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drill In The Home)
- Develop a home escape plan that includes:
- Two exits out of every room
- An outside meeting place (tree, mailbox, etc.)
- Practice escape plan with every member
- Escape using the nearest safe exit
- Escape and exit away from smoke
- If room is full of smoke, crawl low to exit
- Teach all family members how to:
Call 9-1-1 in an emergency
(State your name, location & type of emergency)
Smoking Materials & Candles
- Never leave cigarettes or candles unattended
- Purchase and use ashtrays that have the center support feature
- Empty ashtrays into noncombustible containers only and water soak
- Never smoke in bed or when drowsy
- Place candles in noncombustible, sturdy holders
- Never leave candles unattended
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
Heating Equipment & Fireplace
- Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from all combustibles
- Never leave space heaters unattended, turn off while sleeping
- Replace furnace filters regularly
- Never use oven/cookstove for home heating
- Clean lint from behind clothes dryer
- Install a spark screen on fireplace opening
- Have chimney inspected/cleaned annually
- Install a spark arrester on chimney
- Burn only clean, dry firewood
- Dispose of ashes in metal containers and water soak
- Keep newspapers, other combustibles, and clutter away from water heater/furnace
Smoke Alarms
- Install smoke alarms inside and outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home
- Test smoke alarms once a month
(Hint: use a broom handle to reach & push test button) - Replace smoke alarm batteries twice a year
(Hint: use each time-change as a reminder) - Replace smoke alarm units every 10 years
Fire Extinguishers
- Purchase a multipurpose (ABC) extinguisher
- Teach your family how to use a fire extinguisher
(Use P.A.S.S.: Pull the pin, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) - Fight fire with a safe exit behind you
- Inspect extinguishers annually
Cooking
- Never leave cooking unattended
- Cuff sleeves and turn pot handles inward when cooking to avoid burn injuries
- If your clothes catch fire, Stop, Drop, and Roll
- Never store combustibles in oven or on top of stove
- When barbequing, move unit away from the house
- Dispose of coals/ashes in metal containers
Exterior
- Make sure yourrhouse number is visible from street
- Trim trees away from electrical wires
- Trim trees away from chimney and remove all pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves & rain gutters
- Keep lawn mowed a minimum of 30 feet surrounding house
Electrical
- Avoid overloading electrical circuits
- Inspect electrical cords and appliances for damage
- Do not tack cords to the wall or run them under rugs
- Maintain air space around electrical equipment, such as, TV, VCR, stereo, etc.
- Install additional outlets, by a qualified electrician, to avoid using cube taps and extension cords
- Extension cords are only for temporary use
- Use only the kind that have a built-in circuit breaker
Hazardous Materials
- Limit the amount of chemicals stored
- Dispose of and recycle household hazardous materials properly
- Store hazardous materials in proper containers with tight-fitting lids and correct identification labels
- Store hazardous materials away from heat sources
- Allow for proper ventilation when using flammable liquids and hazardous materials
- Gasoline and other fuels are only used as fuels for engines and proper appliances
- Put oily rags in metal containers with tight-fitting lids, not in a pile where they can spontaneously ignite
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