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October is National Fire Prevention Month

October 25, 2016
October is National Fire Prevention Month and it's a great time to go over some safety tips with your family!
  • Smoke detectors should be installed on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. 
  • Add a reminder to your calendar to test your smoke detectors every month. Make sure everyone in your family knows what your smoke alarm sounds like and that if they hear the sound, they should follow your family's escape plan.
  • When changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time in November, also change your smoke alarm batteries. 
  • Teach your children to never play with matches and lighters. Keep all matches and lighters put away and out of children's reach. 
  • Prepare an escape plan with your family and practice, practice, practice! Each room should have two exit routes in case one way is blocked by smoke or fire. When practicing your escape plan, be sure to try both routes. 
  • Staying low during a fire makes it easier to breath. Practice crawling to safety with your family. 
  • Use the back of your hand to test the temperature of doors before opening them. If a door is hot, find another way out. 
  • If your clothing is on fire, stop, drop and roll! Do not run, as running makes fire burn faster. 
  • Loud smoke alarms and firefighters in all of their gear can be scary for children. Show them pictures of firefighters in all of their equipment. Or even better, take them to a fire station and let them see everything a firefighter wears in person. 
  • Remind your children to never hide during a fire! Fires and loud alarms are scary, but reinforce the importance of getting outside. 
  • When setting up your family's escape plan, be sure to choose a meeting place outside. If a family member isn't at the meeting spot during a fire, do NOT go back inside. Tell a firefighter.