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Install smoke alarms -

Do you have smoke alarms inside every sleeping area and on every level of the house? Smoke alarms should be installed in all bedrooms, but keep them away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms.

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Interconnected smoke alarms -

It's best to use interconnected smoke alarms. This way when one unit sounds, they all sound. Do you know what your smoke alarm sounds like? Learning the sounds of fire safety is vital in order to react quickly and efficiently during an emergency.

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The sound of an alarm -

A continued set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call the emergency services, and stay out.

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Special alarms and devices -

Hard of hearing, or deaf? Fear not. Those challenged by audio deficiency such as the elderly can invest in special smoke alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and pillow or bed shakers.

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Battery check -

Check battery power regularly. Never remove batteries or disable the alarm. If you hear a single "chirp" every 30 or 60 seconds, this means the battery is low and must be changed.

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When to change a smoke alarm -

Don't forget! All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.

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Carbon monoxide alarm -

It's worth mentioning the value of installing a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. CO is often given the chilling nickname the "silent killer."

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Be aware of the "silent killer" -

In the home, heating and cooking equipment and appliances that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. A CO alarm will emit a continuous set of four loud beeps—beep, beep, beep, beep—when the gas is present. As with smoke alarms, the unit will "chirp" when battery power is low. Similarly, replace after 10 years.

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Home fire sprinklers -

As an additional precaution, consider installing home fire sprinklers. These useful devices can save lives and property. Remember that a home fire sprinkler system needs to be winterized the same as you winterize a domestic water supply. In other words, it's vital to make sure pipes don't freeze in colder months.

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Trigger -

Incidentally, water sprinklers cannot be activated by tobacco smoke or that given off by burnt toast, for example. Only the high temperature of a fire will trigger the unit.

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Escape planning -

In the unfortunate event that a fire does take hold of your property, are you aware of the quickest and safest routes out of the house? Create and practice a home escape plan. If practical, include two ways out of every room.

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Practice fire drill -

Practicing a fire drill can increase your chances of surviving a blaze.

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Keep doors closed -

Remember to close as many doors as possible as you vacate the property. A closed door may help slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.

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Have an outside meeting place -

Decide on a place to meet outside, under a tree perhaps, or on a bench. This is the spot everyone escaping the property should head for.

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Kitchen environment -

Prevention is better than cure, so they say. Following a few simple household rules can diminish the chances of a fire breaking out in your property. For example, stay in the kitchen while cooking. Many home fires are associated with cooking equipment, mostly because of unattended cooking.

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Sparks can fly -

There's nothing quite like a roaring log fire to warm up a house, especially during the winter months. Furthermore, chilling off next to a cozy fireplace is one way to spend quality family bonding time. But make sure you place a guard across the fireplace. Remember, sparks can fly.

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Electric heater -

All heaters need space, and an electric heater especially so. Home heating is a leading cause of domestic fires, so it's important to keep things that can burn—paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, rugs, etc.—well away from heating equipment. And by the way, this advice also extends to kids and pets.

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Using a fire extinguisher -

Do you have a fire extinguisher in the house? Fire extinguishers can be a small but important part of the home fire safety plan. Ideally, keep at least one fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, including the basement and attic, if you have them. They can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or suppressing it until the fire department arrives.

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Types of fire extinguisher -

Note that fire extinguishers are designed to tackle several different fire classes. The six main fire extinguisher types are water, foam, CO2, powder, water mist, and wet chemical. A water fire extinguisher is used for putting out fires consisting of paper, wood, straw, coal, rubber, solid plastics, and soft furnishings. A wet chemical extinguisher is used for tackling ignited fats, grease, and cooking oils. Tip: never use water on these kinds of fires.

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Keep one in the car -

It's a good idea to carry a small fire extinguisher in your car in case of a problem under the hood or elsewhere in the vehicle.

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Power outage -

What do you do if the power goes out in your home during nighttime? Well the first thing is not to light a candle. Always use a flashlight or the illumination from a smart device to investigate a blown fuse, or any other cause of electrical outage.

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College and university -

The fire safety measures you learn at home extend beyond the domestic environment. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately six out of seven fires in college dormitories are started by cooking.

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Fire escape -

When seeking out a dorm or choosing off-campus housing, look for fully sprinklered properties. And make sure the fire alarm system is clearly audible. Always check that a property is equipped with a well-maintained fire escape.

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Fire alarm stations -

Familiarize yourself with fire alarm stations, and be sure you can sound an alarm yourself if necessary.

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Evacuation plan -

Remember the home escape plan idea mentioned earlier? Apply the same logic by learning the evacuation plans drawn up for your dorm, halls of residence, or off-campus housing.

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Emergency fire stations -

Make a note of where fire extinguishers and hoses are housed. If you're unable to operate this apparatus yourself, you may be able to direct a firefighter to an emergency station.

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Fire escape signage -

Learn to recognize fire escape route signage. This is your way out of a potential disaster.

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Campfires -

Trekking the wilds? Before setting up a campfire, make sure it is allowed. If campfires are permitted, they need to be at least 7.5 m (25 ft) away from anything that can burn.

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Campfire by water -

Ideally, a campfire should be started near a river or lake. This allows for quick and easy access to water should the need to extinguish the flames become necessary.

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Beware of the BBQ -

The same applies to lighting a barbecue. In the great outdoors, permission is often needed from an authority before firing up a BBQ. And never attempt to do so during hot, dry weather in a wooded or forested environment.

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Matches -

Common sense dictates that discarding a lighted match is a serious no-no, in any environment and under any conditions.

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Fire prevention apps -

You can wise up on your knowledge of fire safety by downloading specialized apps. The Red Cross Emergency App, for example, allows users to learn how to prevent a home fire and what to do if one occurs. There's also the very useful Smoke Alarm Messenger that sends an SMS to the phone number you choose or email to the email address you choose when a smoke detector goes off in your home.

Sources: (National Fire Protection Association) (American Red Cross) (IFSEC Global) 

See also: Films inspired by fire and flame

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