Top 10 Home Fire Safety Tips

1. It is estimated that about 10,000 fires are started by children every year. This is so because most parents either forget to teach children about fire hazards or they do not take it seriously. Teaching children, even young ones, about fire safety should be part of any family's fire prevention plan. Not only children must be taught about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters they should be told firmly not to do so. Matches and lighters should be kept away from the reach of children and preferably locked away.

2. Smoke alarms are the most important fire prevention tools in a home's fire prevention arsenal. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor especially near bedrooms. It is even preferable to have one in each room. They must be tested frequently by lighting a match under them and batteries changed twice a year. In case you are awakened by an alarm you must not assume that your children will also be woken up. Make sure that someone is assigned the responsibility of waking them up and leading them outside. Some automatic responses in case of fires should be drilled into young children so that they get out immediately even when drowsy.

3. Have an escape plan in place for everyone in case of fire. Responsibilities should be clearly defined and understood. Children and others should be trained to look for hot doors before opening them. A hot door is a sure sign of fire in the other side. In case it is not possible to get out of the door children must be taught how to use fire escape ladders to get out of windows in multi floor homes. Such ladders should be kept in accessible places on each floor. Teach young children how to open doors and windows. Of course they must all open easily.

4. Practice the fire escape plan at least once a month to ensure its smooth execution. Teach the children that smoke and fumes are as dangerous as fire and as hot gases rise up they should get down to floor level if a fire is raging and there is a lot of smoke. They should be taught the use of wet towels to keep out smoke and fumes. In case their clothes catch fire they should remove them immediately if possible or else roll on the floor to put it out.