Home Fire Safety Tips

This week is National Fire Prevention Week. To make sure that you and your family are kept safe, here are some good tips from American Red Cross to practice in fire safety.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Test Your Smoke Alarms
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home inside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Check your smoke alarms once a month, if they’re not working, change the batteries.


Practive Fire Drills at Home
Fire experts agree that you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out. Use this Home Fire Escape Plan worksheet to plan your evacuation and practice it at least twice a year as a family.

Prevent a Fire in Your Home
Your home may be full of fire hazards that you aren’t aware of. From your kitchen stove, to a romantic candle, to festive holiday lights, common household items can turn dangerous very quickly. Use our Home Fire Safety Checklist to reduce the risk of fire in your home.


Engaging Youth in Fire Preparedness

Youth often first learn about fire safety in school through fire drills and education, and are enthusiastic about bringing safety messages home. To request a presentation about fire prevention or preparedness in your child’s school or extracurricular program, contact your local Red Cross chapter.