Fire Safety: What to Know

These fire safety tips can help your family be ready if a fire happens at home.

Fire Extinguishers

Be prepared for small fires by having fire extinguishers placed around your home. Be sure to have:

• at least one on each floor
• one in the kitchen (this should be one that can be used on grease and electrical fires)
• one in the basement, the garage, and any workshop area

If you live in an apartment building, also ask the landlord to show you where the fire extinguishers are in the hallways and common areas.

Always keep fire extinguishers out of reach of children.

When Should We Use a Fire Extinguisher?

Fire extinguishers are best used when a fire is contained in a small area, like a wastebasket, and when the fire department has already been called.

How Should We Use a Fire Extinguisher?

Use the word PASS to make it easier to know how to use an extinguisher:

• Pull the pin. Release the lock with the nozzle pointing away from you.
• Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the bottom of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

The best time to learn how to use a fire extinguisher is now, before you ever need it. Fire extinguishers have gauges on them that show you when they need to be replaced. Check them regularly to make sure they're still working correctly. If you have any questions, the local fire department can help.

If you're ever in doubt about whether to use an extinguisher on a fire, don't try it. Instead, leave your home right away and call the fire department.

Teaching Kids the Facts About Fire

Unfortunately, many kids will try to hide from a fire, often in a closet, under a bed, or in a corner. This isn’t safe because firefighters or other adults need to find them quickly. By teaching kids basic fire safety facts, they'll be better able to protect themselves.

Teach your kids that:

• Fires spread quickly.
• Most fire-related deaths are not from burns, but from smoke inhalation.
• Dangerous fumes can overcome a person in just a few minutes.

What to Do in a Fire

Kids should learn to:

• Cover their mouths and noses with a moist towel or an article of clothing to keep out dangerous fumes while evacuating.
• Crawl under the smoke to safety, staying as low to the ground as possible (smoke always rises).
• Touch any door (not the doorknob) to see if it’s hot. If it is, they should not open it — find another exit. It’s also important to not open doors if there’s smoke coming in.
• Locate the nearest stairway marked "Fire Exit" if they live in an apartment building, or a fire escape if the stairway isn't accessible.
• Avoid elevators during a fire.
• Never stop to take personal belongings or pets or to make a phone call (even to 911) while evacuating.
• Never go back into a burning building once safely outside.
• Stop, drop, and roll to put out flames if clothing or hair catches fire.

Practice Fire Drills at Home

Fire drills aren’t just for school and workplaces. By rehearsing different situations at home twice a year, every year, your family will be better prepared in the event of a fire, If relatives or babysitters are at your home often, include them in the fire drills. If you live in an apartment, ask when fire drills are scheduled.

Plan Escape Routes

• Be sure to plan escape routes, especially in case a fire were to happen at night.
• Plan two escape routes from each room, in case one is blocked by fire. Make sure that furniture and other objects aren’t blocking doorways or windows.
• Be sure you know the locations of the closest stairwells or fire escapes and where they lead.
• Practice the escape routes for each room.
• Decide on a safe meeting place outside your house or apartment building.
• Test your plan to see if everyone can be out of the house and at the safe meeting place within three minutes.
• Have your family draw a map of the escape plan.

Check Windows

Make sure that the windows in every room are easy to open and are not painted over or nailed shut. (Check window screens too.) This may be your only way out in a fire. If you live in an apartment building, make sure any safety bars on windows are removable in an emergency.

Check Escape Ladders

If your house is more than one story tall or if you live above the ground floor of an apartment building, it's important to have an escape ladder. The escape ladder:

• should be in each upper story bedroom occupied by a person capable of using it
• must be made of fire-safe material like aluminum, not rope
• should be operated by adults only
• must be approved by an independent testing laboratory
• should be of appropriate length for your home
• must support the weight of the heaviest person in the home

What Else Should I Know?

If smoke or fire blocks an escape route, go to a room with a window, if possible, and open it if it’s safe. Call for help from the window or call 911 if there’s a phone. Blocking gaps around the door with blankets, sheets, or clothing can help keep smoke out.

To help prevent fires in the first place, be aware of possible fire hazards at home.