Fire safety measures

Fires are the main cause of injuries and deaths in the home. To consider:

About half of the deaths in home fires occur in homes without smoke detectors.
Most house fires occur during the winter months.
Alcohol consumption is responsible for approximately 40% of residential fires.
Most fire victims die from smoke or poisonous gases, not from burns.
The kitchen is the main cause of home fires.
Smoking is the main cause of death from fires.

Here's another fact: despite the shrill sound of a fire alarm, children and teenagers can fall asleep. For this reason, it is important to teach everyone in your home how to escape a night fire. This checklist can help you determine the risk of a fire in your home. It will also help you prepare your family for a quick fire escape:

Smoke detector

Place fire/smoke detectors in strategic locations in your home, such as the kitchen, near bedrooms, and near fireplaces or stoves. Install at least one fire alarm on every level of your home, including the basement.
Replace the smoke detector batteries once a year. Check your alarm twice a year. A good way to remember: when summer and winter time change each spring and autumn.
For the hearing impaired, special smoke detectors with strobe lights and/or vibration are available. You can buy them online and from local fire equipment distributors.
Install new fire detectors when they are 10 years old or older (earlier if damaged or not working).

Fire prevention strategy

Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen and check it annually. Learn how to use it. Extinguish the fire in a saucepan with a lid or another saucepan.
Teach children how to safely handle matches, fires, electrical outlets, electrical cords, stoves, and chemicals. Keep matches and open flames such as candles or lanterns out of the reach of children.
Buy children's sleepwear made of flame retardant fabric. Dress children in flame retardant and flame retardant clothing. Elderly people should be careful not to wear loose clothing that could catch fire.

Family fire drills

Know the emergency number of your fire department. Remember to get out first if there is a fire and then call for help once you are safe outside.
Teach understanding age children to stop, fall and roll over if their clothes catch fire so they can help put out the flames and avoid serious burns.
Let the children help plan an escape route in case of a fire. Pick a meeting point outside the house where everyone will gather and make sure they know they should never go back to a burning building.
Teach kids to always keep stairs and exits clear of furniture, toys, and other obstacles that might slow your escape.
Practice using the escape route during family fire drills at least twice a year. Make sure the nannies also know the route.
Practice evading the smoke by getting on all fours and crawling under the smoke to the nearest exit. Colder air will be near the ground.
Once the children have mastered the plan, do the exercise while everyone is sleeping. This will let you know if they wake up or go to sleep through the smoke detector. Even those who wake up may be lethargic or move slowly.

Potential fire hazard

Cooking equipment

Keep track of everything you cook if the setting is higher than "hot".
Keep oven mitts, plastic utensils, towels and other non-cooking items away from the stove as they may catch fire.
While cooking, roll up or tie loose long sleeves.
Keep candy or cookies away from the stove so kids won't be tempted to climb on top of them to get to the treats.

Cigarettes, lighters and matches

Tobacco products are the main cause of death in fires. The tools used to ignite them are also flammable, so:
Store lighters and matches in a locked cabinet out of the sight and reach of children, and remind children that they are adult tools and not toys.
Before emptying the ashtrays, make sure that the cigarette butts are completely extinguished. Never toss a cigarette butt directly into a trash can without first spraying it with water.

Furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters

Furnaces should be checked annually. Keep boxes, paper, and other flammable items away from the oven. An open shed is better.
There are other potential home fire hazards, so be aware of:
Foyers should be protected by tempered glass screens or doors. Keep kindling at least three feet from the fireplace. Check the chimney annually and clean it if necessary.
When purchasing an electric heater, pay attention to the UL marking. Keep at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn. Turn off the heater before bed or leave the area you are heating.

Wood-burning stoves

Make sure wood stoves are properly installed and comply with your city's building and fire codes.
Do not burn garbage or other objects in the oven. Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to light a fire in a stove. Burn charcoal only if recommended by the manufacturer.
Remember that wood and charcoal stoves get very hot. If you have small children living in or visiting your home, keep a close eye on them and consider installing a temporary oven guard to prevent burns.
Follow oven instructions and cleaning and maintenance requirements.
Have your chimneys checked and cleaned annually by a professional chimney sweeper to avoid dangerous buildup of creosote.
Use an approved stone slab under a wood or charcoal stove to protect the floor from heat and embers.

Kerosene heaters

Refer to local and national codes and regulations regarding the use of kerosene heaters. These heaters are prohibited for home use in some regions.
Use only kerosene. Never use gasoline in a heater. Gasoline is highly volatile, which greatly increases the risk of fire. Refuel outdoor kerosene heaters after they have cooled down.
In case of fire, activate the manual switch and call the fire brigade.
Locate the heater at least three feet away from anything that could burn and in a low traffic area so it won't be knocked over or pinched in the event of a fire.
Keep the room ventilated (door open or window half open) to avoid indoor air pollution problem.

Gas-fired space heaters

These heaters should not be used in small enclosed spaces, especially bedrooms, as there is a risk of explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for igniting the pilot. Otherwise, gas fumes may accumulate and ignite, burning hands or face.
Light a match to ignite the pilot before you ignite the gas; this will prevent the accumulation of gas. Keep flammable materials away from gas appliances.
Do not use a propane heater with a gas cylinder.

Other dangers

Use proper fuses in electrical boxes, do not overload outlets, and use insulated and grounded electrical cords.
Clean up trash in attics, basements and garages.
Be careful with petrol powered equipment such as lawn mowers, snow blowers and chainsaws.
Avoid fireworks. Think safety first when dealing with fireworks.