Fire Safety Tips & Checklists

FAMILY ESCAPE PLAN

Family meetings to discuss emergency procedures, escape routes and general life saving tips are a must.

• Every room should have two escape routes and rope ladders for windows if necessary.
• Children should be taught how to open windows and climb to safety.
• Everyone should know the fastest way out of each section of the house. Review plans frequently.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

For relative harmless fires, it is wise to keep all-purpose, dry chemical fire extinguishers around the home. Never try to put out an electrical fire with water, always disconnect the appliance before attempting to extinguish the blaze.

Remember, if you doubt your ability to bring a fire under control – get everyone out of the house and call the fire department.

SET STRICT SMOKING RULES

Smoking and matches are the primary causes of house fires. Never allow anyone to smoke in a chair or sofa when drowsy. Use large, deep ashtrays. Look for any unextinguished hazards in sofas, wastebaskets and ashtrays. Never light matches near flammable liquids, stacks of paper or in attics or closets. Keep matches where young children can’t get to them.

COOK GREASE-FREE

Grease spills are frequent causes of fire and should be cleared immediately. Never allow grease to accumulate under range hoods, ovens or burners. Keep curtains and waste containers away from the stove. Cover fry pans when cooking foods which may spatter grease.

BEWARE OF WIRING

Overloaded electrical systems invite fire. Watch for overload signals such as dimming lights when appliances go on, a shrinking picture on the TV, slow-heating appliances and fuses blowing frequently. Check for frayed insulation, loose connections, damaged cords, faulty switches and loose wall receptacles.

CHECK HEATING EQUIPMENT

During the home heating season, inspect furnaces, chimneys and flues for proper working order. Never keep wood, paper or trash near a heat source. Use a fireplace screen and clean the ash pit every few weeks. Do not use room heaters which can be tipped over easily. Use proper fuel for non-electrical space heaters, and never refuel while the unit is operating.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Since fire gases cause three out of four fire deaths in dwellings, an adequate smoke detection system is an absolute necessity. The loud siren (at the first sign of smoke) will give your family the precious extra time to insure their safety. One or two detectors strategically placed outside bedrooms should suffice.

SLEEP WITH DOORS CLOSED

This is one of the simplest safety precautions. A snug-fitting solid-core wood door, when shut, can triple the time it takes for a fire to become fatal inside your room. Tell your children to keep bedroom doors closed — and tell them why!

TEACH CHILDREN WELL

Teach young children about the danger of fire. Satisfy a child’s natural curiosity about fire, but always make sure matches or lighters are completely out of reach. If a child is tall enough to reach the stove controls, make the kitchen off limits unless someone is there to supervise.

KEEP HOUSE

Halls, attics, basements, closets, garages and areas around heating units should be kept free of rubbish, especially newspapers, discarded clothing, boxes, mattresses and bedding, draperies and toys. Discard old paint, thinners, solvents, oily cloths and wood scraps. Keep any combustible liquids in a tightly closed metal container and store them in a cool place.

Only one-fifth to one-fourth of households (23%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely. In 2006, there were an estimated 396,000 reported home structure fires and 2,580 associated civilian deaths in the United States.

One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out! The Bartlesville Fire Department offers the following life-saving tips that could make a big difference to you and increase your survival rate dramatically.

FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING LIFE-SAVING TIPS

• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test the alarm every month and change the batteries when you change your clocks (twice a year).
• Practice finding your way out of the house with your eyes closed, crawling low and feeling your way out.
• Always crawl low under the smoke (Smoke is the killer, not the fire itself).
• Never open doors that are hot to the touch.
• Make sure everyone knows at least two ways out of every room and practice using both.
• Designate a meeting place outside away from the house and make sure that it is an immovable object (tree, neighbor’s driveway, fence post, etc.).
• Take attendance once you’re out.
• Remember to escape first, then notify the fire department.
• Teach your family to stop, drop, and roll if their clothes catch fire. Remember: Get out and stay out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 82% of all fire deaths occur in the home
• Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape to safety.
• Your ability to get out depends on advanced warning from smoke alarms, and advanced planning.
• Having a working smoke detector reduces one’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half.

DON’T PANIC

The calmer you remain, the easier it is to react quickly and wisely. Stay cool and help members of your family act calmly. This will minimize or eliminate tragic mistakes.

STAY LOW

Heat and smoke rise, so stay low to the ground as you escape. Breathe through your nose and take short breaths. If necessary, break open a window to get air and call for help, but never open a window near the blaze. Close doors behind you as you escape.

Remember: Never go upstairs. Stay low!

TEST DOORS

If you are awakened to a fire, test the closed bedroom door to see if it is hot. If so, escape through windows. If the door feels cool, open it slowly, but close it quickly again if you feel a rush of hot air or smell smoke. Teach children to do the same. Have a flashlight handy in each room for night escapes.

STAY OUT

Once out of the house — stay out! Don’t attempt a rescue. Know where the nearest phone or emergency call box is and let the fire department take over. There are no material objects in your home worth risking the safety of you or your family. Once everyone arrives at the designated meeting place, stay calm — and stay put.

SELECT A MEETING PLACE

Pick a spot for everyone to meet. Make sure it’s easy to get to. Assign someone responsibility for very young children and handicapped persons. Write it down and display it where everyone can see it as a reminder.

For more information, check out this FEMA brochure.

Read our guide on best house number locations

Download our fire extinguisher safety factsheet

Download our carbon monoxide safety factsheet.