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Protect
Yourself
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- Install
smoke alarms. Properly working smoke alarms
decrease your chances
of dying in a fire by half.
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- Place
smoke alarms on every level of your residence.
Place them outside bedrooms on the ceiling
or high on the wall (4 to 12 inches from
ceiling), at the top of open stairways,
or at the bottom
of enclosed stairs and
near (but not in) the kitchen.
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- Test
and clean smoke alarms once a month and
replace batteries at least once a year.
Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years.
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Escaping
the Fire |
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- Review
escape routes with your family. Practice
escaping from each room.
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- Make
sure windows are not nailed or painted
shut. Make sure security gratings on windows
have a fire safety opening feature so they
can be easily opened from the inside.
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- Consider
escape ladders if your residence has more
than one level, and ensure that
burglar
bars and other antitheft mechanisms that
block outside window entry are easily
opened
from the inside.
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- Teach
family members to stay low to the floor
(where the air is safer in a fire) when
escaping from a fire.
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- Clean
out storage areas. Do not let trash, such
as old newspapers and magazines, accumulate.
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Flammable
Items |
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- Never
use gasoline, benzine, naptha, or similar
flammable liquids indoors.
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- Store
flammable liquids in approved containers
in well-ventilated storage areas.
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- Never
smoke near flammable liquids.
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- Discard
all rags or materials that have been soaked
in flammable liquids after you have used
them.
Safely discard them outdoors in a
metal container.
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- Insulate
chimneys and place spark arresters on top.
The chimney should be at least
three feet
higher than the roof. Remove branches hanging
above and around the chimney.
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Heating
Sources |
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- Be
careful when using alternative heating
sources.
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- Check
with your local fire department on the
legality of using kerosene heaters in your
community.
Be sure to fill kerosene heaters
outside, and be sure they have cooled.
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- Place
heaters at least three feet away from flammable
materials. Make sure the floor
and nearby
walls are properly insulated.
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- Use
only the type of fuel designated for your
unit and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
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- Store
ashes in a metal container outside and
away from your residence.
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- Keep
open flames away from walls, furniture,
drapery, and flammable items.
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- Keep
a screen in front of the fireplace.
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- Have
heating units inspected and cleaned annually
by a certified specialist.
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Matches
and Smoking |
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- Keep
matches and lighters up high, away from
children, and, if possible, in a locked
cabinet.
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- Never
smoke in bed or when drowsy or medicated.
Provide smokers with deep, sturdy ashtrays.
Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water
before disposal.
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Electrical
Wiring |
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- Have
the electrical wiring in your residence
checked by an electrician.
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- Inspect
extension cords for frayed or exposed wires
or loose plugs.
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- Make
sure outlets have cover plates and no exposed
wiring.
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- Make
sure wiring does not run under rugs, over
nails, or across high-traffic areas.
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- Do
not overload extension cords or outlets.
If you need to plug in two or three appliances,
get a UL-approved unit with built-in circuit
breakers to prevent sparks and short circuits.
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- Make
sure insulation does not touch bare electrical
wiring.
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Other |
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- Do
not leave lit candles unattended.
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- Sleep
with your door closed.
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- Install
A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your residence
and teach family members how to use them.
If you aren't familiar with how to use
a fire extinguisher, contact your local
fire department and they
will teach you
how to use one.
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- Consider
installing an automatic fire sprinkler
system in your residence.
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- Ask
your local fire department to inspect your
residence for fire safety and prevention.
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