Fire Safety
American homes suffer an unwanted fire every 10 seconds, and every 60 seconds they suffer a fire serious enough to call the fire department. Most importantly, every three hours someone is killed in a home fire that is about 3,000 people and another 13,000 people are injured in home fires in a typical year.
The following steps can help your family prepare for and survive a fire in your home.
Every Home Should Have at Least One Working Smoke Alarm. Buy a smoke alarm at any hardware or discount store. It's inexpensive protection for you and your family. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Working smoke alarms can double your chances of survival. Test it monthly, keep it free of dust and replace the battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms themselves should be replaced after ten years of service, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Plan Your Escape. Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.
During dry weather periods wildfires may also become a threat to your community. Check out the links on this page for more information.
The above information was obtained from the U.S. Fire Administration
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