 Fire Safety
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Fire Safety
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Smoke detectors should be installed in every sleeping area and on every floor of your home. Check your smoke alarms every month and replace the batteries twice a year (a good way to remember to change the batteries is during the twice-yearly time change). Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Some smoke alarms, such as a 10-year lithium alarm, do not require an annual battery change.
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According to the United States Fire Administration, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, one-third of residential fires that kill children are caused by children playing with flammable products, such as matches. In addition, a lack of working smoke alarms can significantly increase the chance of dying in a residential fire. However, by taking appropriate steps to make your home safe, you can protect your children and your family from fires:
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- Keep flammable products, such as matches, lighters, and candles locked and out of the reach of children.
- Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home.
- Maintain heating equipment: regularly have your furnace inspected, and turn off and unplug supplemental heaters when sleeping.
- Only burn logs in the fireplace with a fireplace screen in place to protect against sparks. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected yearly.
- Develop several fire escape plans from each room in the house and practice them regularly with your family.
- Make sure items such as clothing or blankets do not cover lamps that are turned on.
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Although the basic smoke alarm can detect most fires, you also may want to consider installing both an ionization alarm to better sense flaming fires and a photoelectric alarm to better sense slow, smoky fires.
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In the event of a fire, it is important to get out of the house fast. However, small children can become frightened, disoriented, or react inappropriately when a fire occurs. By developing a family escape plan together, and practicing it repeatedly, your child will have a better chance of escaping a fire unhurt and alive. A good family escape plan should include the following:
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- two escape routes from each room (in case one exit becomes blocked by the fire)
- a chain ladder for every upstairs bedroom
- a drawn floor plan of your home with arrows indicating escape routes
- repeated practice to familiarize yourself and your child with the escape plan
- an agreed-upon meeting place outside of the house
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- Fast Exit - The key to escaping a fire in the home safely is to get out fast. Smoke, gas, or fire can kill within one minute. Leave valuables behind. Avoid being locked into your house, keep a key in or near any locks at night.
- Exit Low - Smoke and the heat from fire rise, so it is important to stay low. Crawl out of the house. Do not run or walk.
- Feel Doors - Always feel the door before opening a door. A hot door indicates fire on the other side. If a door is hot, place sheets or clothing under the door to prevent deadly smoke from entering the room.
- Window Exits - If the door exit is not an option, escape through a window (use the chain ladder if the window is upstairs). If the window is sealed, throw something heavy through the glass and protect yourself from the broken glass when exiting.
- Safe Meeting Place - Meet at an agreed-upon meeting place outside, such as the mailbox, to make sure everyone is out of the house.
- Call For Help - Go to a neighbor's house to call the fire department.
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Special Note: Never go back inside a burning house for any reason!
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As of June 2000, the CPSC requires hangtags and permanent labels on snug-fitting cotton or cotton-blend sleepwear. This is to warn parents that because the sleepwear is not flame-resistant, it must fit snugly. Snug-fitting sleepwear is less likely to come into contact with a flame and does not ignite as easily. Flame-resistant sleepwear is made from flame-resistant fabric or treated with flame retardants.
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