10 FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Eliminate home fire hazards

1. Kitchen Safety
Never leave cooking unattended, keep cooking areas clean and uncluttered, and don’t cook when you’re drowsy.
2. Space Heaters
Keep all space heaters at least three feet (about one meter) away from anything that can burn.
3. Smoking Materials
Use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays, and wet butts and ashes before throwing them away. And never smoke when sleepy.
4. Matches and Lighters
Store matches and lighters locked up high, away from children.
5. Electricity
Replace damaged electrical cords and repair appliances that smell, smoke, or overheat.
6. Candles
Keep candles away from anything that can burn. Blow them out when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Protect your home with smoke alarms

7. Installing smoke alarms
Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home-and near or inside all sleeping areas. New construction requires a smoke alarm in each bedroom. It is recommended that alarms be wired together such if one sounds, they all sound.
8. Testing your alarms
Test smoke alarms once a month, and replace their batteries twice a year, when you change your clock for daylight savings, or when an alarm “chirps” to tell you it’s battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
Know what to do in a fire

If your clothing catches fire, stop-don’t run. Drop to the ground. Cover you face with your hands if possible. And roll over and over or back and forth to smother the flames. Then cool the burned area with water and call for help.
9. Practice your escape
Make a home fire escape plan and hold fire drills at least twice a year so everyone in your household knows what to do in a fire emergency.
10. Crawl under smoke
If you have to escape through smoke crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head on to tow feet (30 to 60 centimeters) above the floor, where the air will be the cleanest.
Courtesy: of the National Fire Prevention Association http://www.nfpa.org/