| Your home fire safety plan is strictly a family | | | | to understand that fire extinguishers must be |
| affair. Adult members of the household have the | | | | used only for small fires. Never attempt to use |
| primary responsibility of keeping children in step | | | | fire extinguishers on large conflagration. |
| with the fire safety plan that is in place in the | | | | TIP #3 - Teach children about the fire safety |
| home. One of your main responsibilities is to | | | | protocol for your home |
| ensure that every member of the household | | | | You must teach your kids about fire and the |
| understands the safety protocols that must be | | | | safety protocol that they must follow in a way |
| followed in the event of emergencies. You have | | | | that it is not frightening to them. Teach them |
| to develop a proactive approach and make sure | | | | how to handle and respond to the presence of |
| that everyone knows how to execute the safety | | | | smoke inside the home. Let your children go |
| protocols without the need for intervention or | | | | through a fire drill where they are made to crawl |
| support of other members of the household. | | | | low while moving to the designated fire exits. |
| With this in mind, it is extremely important that | | | | Teach your children how to dial emergency |
| you take into account the following safety tips | | | | numbers. It is extremely important that you have |
| when formulating your home fire safety plan: | | | | a list of the emergency numbers beside your |
| TIP #1 - Establish your escape route in case of | | | | phone. Older kids and teens must also learn how |
| fire | | | | to apply the advanced fire safety techniques. |
| The first thing that you must work on is a logical | | | | TIP #4 - "Fireproof" your home |
| fire escape route for your home. Each member | | | | Make sure that your home is not fire-prone. Install |
| of the household must be familiar with the plan. It | | | | a fireplace screen to ensure that sparks are |
| is also essential that you conduct fire drills on a | | | | prevented from flying. Make sure that there are |
| periodic basis, and it should involve all members of | | | | no newspapers, matches or kindling materials near |
| the household. Your fire escape plan must consist | | | | your fireplace. Implement regular safety check-up |
| of at least two escape routes for each room. | | | | and maintenance of your chimney. You must |
| Include in your plan the location of window escape | | | | have them inspected by a specialist before the |
| ladders or fire exits. Designate a meeting point | | | | start of the heating season. The cleaning must |
| outside of the home where everyone must | | | | involve the removable of combustible creosote |
| proceed for the necessary head count. | | | | which accumulate over time. |
| TIP #2 - Install essential fire safety and warning | | | | Observe regular check-up and maintenance of |
| devices | | | | your space heaters and furnaces. Make sure that |
| Install smoke detectors in your home. Test your | | | | there are no combustible materials such as rags |
| alarms, and make sure that the younger | | | | and newspapers near a space heater, water |
| members of the household know how to | | | | heater or furnace. Turn off the space heater |
| recognize the fire and smoke alarm sounds. You | | | | before you leave a room. Never use extension |
| must also advise frequent visitors - including | | | | cords with your space heaters since the high |
| relatives, babysitters and close friends - about the | | | | amount of current required by space heaters can |
| sound of each of the alarms in your home. You | | | | melt extension cords. |
| may consider using talking alarms to help your | | | | TIP #5 - Get Rid of Electrical Hazards |
| kids distinguish specific emergency situations. This | | | | Electricity can be a potential tinderbox. It is |
| will help them distinguish the difference between | | | | important that you observe the safety standards |
| the fire alarm and other safety devices in your | | | | and guidelines to ensure that it won't be the cause |
| home. | | | | of fire in your home. Refrain from using extension |
| Fire extinguishers are your best option if you are | | | | cords in your home. If you have to use one, |
| suddenly confronted with a fire that has just | | | | make sure that it is not worn or frayed. Do not |
| started. The best locations to place your fire | | | | run the extension cord under the carpet or rug. It |
| extinguishers are the workshop, garage and | | | | is also not wise to twist it around a hook or nail. |
| kitchen. You must buy an ABC type of fire | | | | Do not use octopus outlets as this can result to |
| extinguisher which is designed for all types of fire. | | | | system overload. It is also important to check |
| Adult members of the household must learn how | | | | loose wires, wall receptacles and lighting fixtures. |
| to use the fire extinguishers. It is essential for you | | | | Electrical sparks can be a potential source of fire. |