Make a Family Plan

Every family should have and practice a home escape plan to follow in the event of a fire. The plan should include drawing a diagram of your home, marking the locations of windows and doors; planning two escape routes out of every room of your home; setting up a meeting place outside of the home for everyone to go following an escape; and practicing the escape plan once a month. Every member of the family and frequent visitors to the home should know and practice the escape route.

• Complete a home fire safety checklist and identify fire risks in your home.
• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• Place smoke alarms on each floor of your home and in each bedroom.
• Make sure that everyone in the home can hear the smoke alarm from their bedrooms.
• Make a family fire escape plan and practice it once a month.
• Make sure that everyone in the house understands the family fire escape plan.
• Place fire extinguishers throughout your home and make sure everyone in the house knows how to use them.
• Never leave food unattended on the stove, keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children, and don’t place portable heaters near flammable materials.