FireSafety ENG.qxd:Layout 1 5/29/09 1:35 PM Page 1 Be Red Cross Ready Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire • If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help. is to identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and home fire deaths occur in homes outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace the batteries with no working smoke alarms. at least once a year. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape • Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year. plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. Prevent home fires Practice fire safety at home In case of fire … Steps You Can Take Now Smoke Alarms Follow Your Escape Plan! ❏ Keep items that can catch on fire at least ❏ Install smoke alarms on every level of Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and three feet away from anything that gets your home, inside bedrooms and outside CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone hot, such as space heaters. sleeping areas. number. ❏ Never smoke in bed. ❏ Teach children what smoke alarms sound ❏ If closed doors or handles are warm, use like and what to do when they hear one. your second way out. Never open doors ❏ Talk to children regularly about the that are warm to the touch. dangers of fire, matches and lighters and ❏ Once a month check whether each alarm keep them out of reach. in the home is working properly by ❏ Crawl low under smoke. pushing the test button. ❏ Turn portable heaters off when you leave ❏ Go to your outside meeting place and then the room or go to sleep. ❏ Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least call for help. once a year. Immediately install a new Cooking Safely ❏ If smoke, heat or flames block your exit battery if an alarm chirps, warning the routes, stay in the room with doors closed. ❏ battery is low. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or Place a wet towel under the door and call broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for ❏ Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a even a short period of time, turn off the years. Never disable smoke or carbon window and wave a brightly colored cloth stove. monoxide alarms. or flashlight to signal for help. ❏ Stay in the home while simmering, ❏ Carbon monoxide alarms are not Use Caution with Fire Extinguishers baking, roasting or boiling food. Check it substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the regularly and use a timer to remind you ❏ Use a portable fire extinguisher difference between the sound of smoke that food is cooking. ONLY if you have been trained by alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. the fire department and in the following ❏ Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot Fire Escape Planning conditions: holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove. ❏ Ensure that all household members know • The fire is confined to a small area, two ways to escape from every room of and is not growing. ❏ Keep pets off cooking surfaces and your home. countertops to prevent them from • The room is not filled with smoke. ❏ knocking things onto the burner. Make sure everyone knows where to meet • Everyone has exited the building. outside in case of fire. Caution: Carbon Monoxide Kills • The fire department has been called. ❏ Practice escaping from your home at least ❏ Install carbon monoxide alarms in central twice a year and at different times of the ❏ Remember the word PASS when using a locations on every level of your home and day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, fire extinguisher. outside sleeping areas. low crawling and meeting outside. Make • Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1. ❏ If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, with the nozzle pointing away from move quickly to a fresh air location ❏ Teach household members to you. outdoors or by an open window or door. STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes • Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the should catch on fire. ❏ Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or base of the fire. other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, • Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. garage, basement, crawlspace or any • Sweep the nozzle from side to side. partially enclosed area. Let Your Family Know You’re Safe If you experience a home fire or any disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well Web site available through RedCross.org to let your family and friends know about your welfare. If you don’t have Internet access, call 1-866- GET-INFO to register yourself and your family. For more information on disaster and emergency preparedness, visit RedCross.org. Copyright © 2009 by the American National Red Cross | Stock No. 658536.