Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety Tips for Everyone

• Test your Smoke Alarms - Your smoke alarm has the power to save your life - but only if it is working properly! Check the batteries in it at least once a month and then test the system to make sure it's in good working order! Change the batteries every time the time changes, or purchase a smoke alarm with a 10-year battery life.
• Don't have a smoke alarm in your home? Get one, or two, or three! The safe rule of thumb is to have at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home outside of the sleeping areas. And if you are someone who sleeps with the bedroom door shut, consider putting an additional smoke alarm in that room as well!
• Have an escape plan! Get your family together and work out a plan of escape for everyone! And then have a "what will we do if our normal route of escape is blocked?' plan ready. Practice that plan with your family once or twice a year as a reminder! Everyone should know two ways out of each room - and know where to meet once outside. Make sure everyone understands that getting out is the first priority.
• In case of a fire, get out quickly! You don't have as much time to get out of a burning building as you might think. Real fires are hot, smokey and dark. If you're ever in a fire, don't spend time getting dressed or trying to gather valuables. Just get out! And once you're outside, stay outside! Call the fire department from a neighbor's telephone!

Candle with Care, When you go out - Blow Out

Used safely, candles can fill our homes with fragrance and create a calming and welcome mood. They add glow to holidays and are an important part of religious observances. But they can also be dangerous!

Facts & Figures

• During a five year period (2009-2013) Candles caused 3% of reported home fires, 3% of home fire deaths, 6% of home fire injuries and 5% of the direct property damage in home fires
• Roughly 36% of home candle fires started in bedrooms. These fires caused 32% of the associated deaths and 47% of the associated injuries
• Falling asleep was a factor in 11% of the home candle fires and 30% of the associated deaths
• On average, 25 home candle fires were reported per day
• More than half (58%) of home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came to close to the candle
• December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December 11% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year

Source: NFPA Home Candle Fires report

Here are some candle safety tips for you to follow:

• Place candles on stable furniture, in sturdy holders that will catch dripping wax.
• Never leave a candle unattended.
• If the power goes out use flashlights for illumination!
• Keep candles away from all things that can catch fire.
• Place candles on higher furniture, where they won't be knocked over by children or pets.
• Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
• Ask questions about the candles and candle-holders your buy. There are new standards that major suppliers will follow to make sure the candles and holders won't break, tip over or otherwise malfunction in ordinary use.