Are you ready for a Fire?
Information courtesy of:
American Red Cross
National Fire Prevention Association
Reprinted by Permission of the American Red Cross (1997)
Here’s what you can do to prepare for a Fire.
Make your home fire safe:
Smoke detectors save lives. Install a battery-powered
smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on each
additional level of your home.
Use the test button to check each smoke detector once
a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately.
Replace batteries at least once a year.
Have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Get training
from the fire department in how to use it. Also include
in the kit written instructions on how to turn off your
home’s utilities.
Conduct periodic tornado drills, so everyone remembers
what to do when a tornado is approaching.
Plan your escape routes:
Determine at least two ways to escape from every room
of your home.
If you must use an escape ladder, be sure everyone knows
how to use it.
Select a location outside your home where everyone would
meet after escaping.
Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Once you are out, stay out!
Escape safely:
If you see smoke in your first escape route, use your
second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl
low under the smoke to escape.
If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door
before opening it. If it is hot, use your second way out.
If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay
in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using
a bright-colored cloth at the widow. If there is a telephone
in the room, call the fire department and tell them where
you are.
Plan and get ready:
Fire is one of the most common disasters. Fire causes more
deaths than any other type of disaster. But fire doesn't
have to be deadly if you have early warning from a smoke
detector and everyone in your family knows how to escape
calmly.
Please be serious about the responsibility for planning
for and practicing what to do in case of a fire. Be prepared
by having various household members do each of the items
on the checklist below. Then get together to discuss and
finalize your personalized Fire Plan.
Install smoke detectors outside each sleeping area and
on each additional level of your residence. Keep new batteries
on hand.
New smoke detectors installed; batteries purchased:________(date)
Test smoke detectors once a month. Start a chart and sign
it after each round of tests.
__________________(family member name) checks smoke detectors.
Look at the fire extinguisher you have to ensure it is
properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check
proper pressure. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged,
or corroded replace it or have it professionally serviced.
Get training from the fire department in how to use the
fire extinguisher.
________________(family member name) examines extinguisher.
______________________________________________________
(family member names) have been trained to use the extinguisher.
Draw a floor plan of your home; mark two fire escape routes
for each room.
Floor plan completed:_____________ (date)
Pick a safe outside place to meet after escaping from a
fire.
Meeting place:_____________________________________
Practice a low-crawl escape from your bedroom. Try it with
your eyes closed to see how well you could do in thick smoke.
Smoke escape drill conducted:__________________(date)
Conduct a home fire drill at least twice a year.
Home fire drill conducted:_____________________(date)
And remember...when a fire, earthquake, flood, hurricane,
or other emergency happens in your community, you can count
on your local American Red Cross chapter to be there to
help you and your family. That’s been the role of the
Red Cross for more than 100 years.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has led
the way to fire safety since 1896. The mission of the NFPA
is protecting people, their property, and the environment
from the effects of fire and related hazards.
ARC4456
Revised September 1993
