Fire Safety Checklist for the Home

• Learn the common causes of home fires and burns
• Involve the whole family and check for hot spots.
• Know how to correct fire and burn hazards quickly and safely.

INSIDE YOUR HOME

• Store paint in tightly closed metal containers.
• Keep basement & closets clear of excessive combustibles like papers, cartons, or old rags.
• Check Fuse box to insure the right fuses are being used in each socket.
• Keep electrical cords out in the open - not under rugs, over hoods, or through door openings.
• Check electric cords routinely for wear.
• Do not overload electrical outlets and install special circuits for heavy-duty appliances such as space heaters and air conditioners.

SMOKERS

• Do not smoke in bed or on the sofa when sleepy.
• Check up after others to see that no cigarette butts are lodged in upholstered furniture where they can smolder unseen at night.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Dispose of smoking materials carefully in large safe ashtrays.

KITCHEN

• Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Maintain a constant watch when preparing food.
• Use a low flame to guard against overheated grease and overflows.
• Always turn pot handles toward the center of the stove-Children may grab, or run into, the handle and spill hot cooking oil or hot water onto themselves.
• Keep your stove and oven clean. Wipe up spills promptly.
• Place towels, napkins and potholders away from the stove.
• Set your hot water heater to 120'F to prevent scalds.
• Store cookies, cereal, or other "bait," away from the stove -- climbing children may be burned.
• House hold cleaners and chemicals are out of reach of children.
• The poison control center number is posted by all telephones.

BATHROOM

• Only GFCI outlets are used.
• Appliances are never used near water.
• Electrical appliances are stored unplugged, out of reach of children
• Showers and tubs have a slip-resistant rubber mats or decals.
• Wastebaskets are kept emptied.
• ALL MEDICINES ARE STORED IN ORIGINAL CONTAINERS AND OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

BEDROOMS

• Upper story windows have quick release guards to prevent fall, yet allow an exit.
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home and near the bedrooms.
• Smoke alarms tested once a month
• Smoke alarms are clean and dust-free.

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME

• Minimum 2" high letters preferably 4" high letters visible from the street
• Store flammable liquids such as gasoline, in tight, properly labeled fire-safe containers, away from heat sources and small children.
• Keep your distance from ignition sources (like open pilot lights on water heaters and stoves) when using flammables.
• Turn off your lawn mower and allow it to cool before adding gasoline.
• Clear away pine needles and leaves from the roof, eaves and rain gutters.
• Trim all tree limbs within 10 feet and remove all dead limbs hanging over the house or garage.
• When cooking outdoors, move open flame cooking appliances away from awnings and overhangs of the home. Also, keep children from hot grills.
• Store flammables and combustibles stored in small approved containers.
• Store flammables and combustibles in the garage or shed away from excessive heat, open flame appliances, and children..
• Aerosol or butane containers are stored in a cool place out of the reach of children.  

HOUSEHOLD

• Ashes are cool or wetted before putting them in trash cans.
• Adults are told if cigarette lighters or matches are left lying around.
• Firearms are stored, unloaded out of sight in a locked, child proof cabinet.
• Ammunition is stored away from firearms in a locked, child-proof container.
• Home fire drills are held often, during the day and night.
• Know 2 ways out of every room.Safe meeting place once out of the house.
• If there is a fire crawl low below the smoke.Never go back inside for anything.
• Know how to stop, drop, and roll if your cloths catch on fire.