Household Hints & HELP!

Fire Safety

submitted by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator
This article appears in the May 16, 2005 Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper.

What do you think when you hear a fire siren? If you’re not home, the fear of a home fire comes to mind. There are ways to prevent and survive a fire. Prevention is the key. Families can reduce the risk of fire by following fire safety tips and rules such as:

• Install smoke detector on every floor and in hallways leading to bedrooms.

• Check smoke detector batteries semi-annually.

• Have a fire escape plan and practice it with the family.

• Know where the exit locations are from your home or apartment.

• Keep all matches and lighters out of children’s sight or reach.

• Never smoke when you are sleepy or in bed. Always properly dispose of cigarettes and cigars. Many house fires are caused by careless smoking.

• Never leave candle unattended. Always put them out when leaving the home or going to bed.

• Don’t overload outlets or run wires and extension cords under rugs, behind radiators, through door jams or across walkways.

• Store combustible liquids outdoors in a cool place out of the reach of children.

• Store gasoline for lawn movers and snow blowers in approved containers.

• Properly install heating equipment and check it is running correctly.

• Use only approved charcoal lighter to start a fire.

• Never leaver a grill unattended.

• Avoid using gas or charcoal grills on enclosed porches or balconies.

• Have a fire extinguisher in your home and make sure all family members know how to use it.

Use the following Fire Safety Checklist with your family. (Make a check by the items you answer “yes” to and plan to correct the deficiency immediately.)

Fire Safety

____ Do you or a member of your family smoke when sleepy or in bed.?

____ Are there any electrical outlets serving more than three appliances?

____ Do you have any extension cords frayed, under rugs behind radiators or too lightweight for their use?

____ Are there any unexplained electrical problems not checked by an electrician?

____ Do the cooks in the family wear loose-fitting clothing while cooking which could catch fire, or do they turn pot handles outward where children can reach them?

____ Is there a buildup of grease on walls near the kitchen range?

____ Are any combustible liquids stored in the home or garage?

____ Does anyone use flammable cleaning fluids such as gasoline, turpentine, or kerosene in the home?

Fire Evacuation

____ Do you have a smoke detector outside or inside the sleeping area of your home?

____ Does each member of the family have two escape routes from his or her bedroom?

____ Does your family hold frequent fire drills, including some at night, so everyone will know what to do if there is a fire?

____ Has a meeting place been set so all members of the family will know where to meet if there is a fire?

If you have a fire in your home, it is always best to get out and call 911. Take a few minutes and do the safety check list and practice your family escape plan.

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