Fire Prevention
 1. Never leave cooking unattended. Keep your cooking areas clean, and grease free. Have a lid nearby to slide over a pot or pan in case of fire. Do not store combustibles on or near cook surfaces.
Remember to use your microwave with care. Be careful when eating or drinking items prepared in the microwave; they may have heated unevenly and can cause scalds and burns.
 2. Keep portable space heaters at least 3-feet away from people and combustibles. Unplug space heaters after use or when leaving the room.
 3. Careless smoking is one of the leading causes of residential fires and residential fire deaths. Prohibit or discourage smoking in your home. Provide large, sturdy, deep ashtrays and make sure cigarette butts and ashes are fully extinguished before throwing them away.
 4. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children (never leave young children unsupervised; children are curious).
 5. Inspect electrical cords to make sure they are not frayed or cracked. Check the plugs and make sure there are no loose connections. Do not place cords under rugs or carpet. Make sure they are not pinched under furniture.
Do not overload electrical outlets or use extension cords for permanent wiring.
 6. Never leave candles unattended. Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that burns. Make sure they are in a secure holder and can not be easily
knocked over. Blow them out when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from candles.
 7. Make a home family fire escape plan. This plan should include two ways out of every room. The two ways out are usually a door and a window. You should select a meeting place outside of your house. This is where your family will safely wait for firefighters. It could be a large tree, the mailbox, or a neighbor or friend’s house.
Everyone should know how to call the fire department and report a fire! If you see a fire call 9-1-1! If you are in a fire, get out first, and then call from a neighbor’s telephone or a pay phone. You and your family should practice your fire escape plan often.
Click here to download escape plan grid sheet.
 8. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Make sure everyone knows the sound of the alarm. For the best protection install interconnected alarms in each bedroom and throughout your home. When one sounds, they all sound.
In a fire every second counts. Test your alarms once a month by pushing the test button and change the batteries at least twice a year. If your smoke alarms are over 10-years old, it is time to replace them. It is a good idea to regularly vacuum the outside cover of your alarms to remove any dust or dust particles from accumulating; this could interfere with the proper functioning of the alarm.
Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act
Effective January 1, 2007, homeowners and landlords must install carbon monoxide detectors in all building containing bedrooms and sleeping facilities. Every dwelling unit must have at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Replacement
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that smoke detectors be replaced when they fail to respond to tests or after they have been in use for 10 years. The recommended replacement schedule for carbon monoxide detectors varies depending on the particular detector. It is very important to follow the manufactures recommendation for replacement.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that is produced by burning wood, coal, charcoal, natural gas, gasoline, propane oil, methanol, and other common fuels. Carbon monoxide is also produced by automobiles and other gasoline or diesel engines. Electrical equipment does not produce carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide alarms can be battery-powered, plugged into an outlet, or hard-wired into a home’s electrical system. Buy only carbon monoxide alarms that carry a “U.L.” label of certification. Install the alarms within 15-feet of sleeping areas. Be sure everyone knows the difference between the sound of a smoke alarm and the sound of a carbon monoxide alarm. If the carbon monoxide warning signal sounds, immediately go to a fresh air location and call for help. Stay at the fresh air location until emergency personnel tells you it is safe.
 9. If you have to escape a fire through smoke conditions, get on your hands and knees and crawl with your head about knee high where the air is cooler. Close the door behind you to keep the fire from spreading. Most important of all: Never, ever go back in to a house or building that is on fire. After the fire, always wait for the fire department to say it is okay to go back in.
 10. If your clothing catches fire, stop – don’t run. Drop to the ground. Cover your face with your hands if possible, and roll over and over and back and forth to smother the flames. Then cool the burned area with cool water and call for help.
|
