Fire safety at home starts with preparation and awareness. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms provide early warning of danger, while safe use of heaters, electrical cords, candles, and cooking equipment helps prevent fires and carbon monoxide exposure. Every household should have an escape plan, practice exit drills, and keep basic emergency supplies on hand. Taking a few simple steps now can help protect your family and save lives in an emergency.

Smoke detectors by themselves cannot save lives. You must help them. The following is a list of some of the things you can do to assist smoke detectors in saving the lives of your family members.

  • Test your smoke detector monthly. If it doesn’t work it cannot alert you.
  • Replace batteries twice a year as daylight savings time changes.
  • Have spare batteries on hand and use them if necessary when testing.
  • Practice EDITH with your family.
  • Keep Matches and Lighters locked away from children.
  • Have a Fire Extinguisher handy near an exit and know how to use it.

Keeping your smoke detector working properly and practicing how to get out when the detector goes off really does save lives. Keeping matches out of small hands and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher also helps.

Every home or living space should have a working Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector for protection. The early alarm allows you to take action before it’s too late. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, poisonous & flammable gas and a by-product of open flame and burning. Carbon monoxide is created by malfunctioning or poorly maintained gas, oil, or wood fired heating and cooking equipment. Additionally, carbon monoxide is given off by car & truck exhaust and is dangerous if allowed to build up in any enclosed space.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can make people sick or confused before they realize there is danger. At high levels, CO can cause unconsciousness or death before a person is able to call for help or escape. Symptoms and warning signs may include:

  • Flu-like illness without a fever
  • Throbbing headaches, dizziness, or confusion
  • Stale or stuffy air
  • Exhaust fumes, burning odors, or unfamiliar smells
  • Malfunctioning furnaces, heaters, stoves, dryers, or blocked chimneys and flues

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, it may indicate CO in your home. Do not ignore it. Take immediate action:

  • Call the Fire Department by dialing 9-1-1
  • Ventilate the space if possible and move everyone outside to fresh air
  • Make sure all occupants are accounted for
  • Do not reenter the building

Carbon monoxide detectors measure exposure over time and alarm when dangerous levels are detected. CO levels above 10 parts per million (ppm) exceed safety standards. When firefighters respond to a CO call, they will take readings and proceed depending on levels.

  • Less than 10 ppm: Reset the detector. If it alarms again after firefighters leave, call 9-1-1.
  • 10–100 ppm: Leave the home until a licensed professional corrects the problem.
  • Over 100 ppm: Do not remain in the home. This level is deadly.

During emergencies or disasters, professional help may not be available. Extra care must be taken when using fuel-burning appliances, propane heaters, fireplaces, or generators, which must always be kept outside and downwind from living spaces.

Some people are more sensitive to carbon monoxide, including:

  • Infants and unborn babies
  • Pregnant individuals
  • Seniors
  • People with heart or lung disease

These individuals may become sick or die at lower CO levels, making awareness, proper equipment use, and preparedness especially important.

Space heaters are a major cause of fire and burns. Be aware of the following hazards when buying and using gas, wood, kerosene and electric space heaters. Fires and burns can be caused by contact with or close proximity to the flame, heating element, or hot surface area. Fires and explosions can be caused by flammable fuels or defective wiring. Indoor air pollution can be caused by improper venting or incomplete combustion of fuel-burning equipment. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be caused by improper venting of fuel burning equipment. However, space heater-caused fires and other hazards can be prevented:

  1. When selecting a heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.
  2. Do not operate a space heater if it is damaged.
  3. Check the power cord for fraying, kinks and cuts before turning a space heater on.
  4. Do not place cording under carpeting in order to keep it from being damaged.
  5. Place a space heater on a flat, noncombustible surface.
  6. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable or combustible, e.g. gasoline, curtains, rugs, furniture, newspaper, blankets or clothing.
  7. Do not operate a space heater in walkways and exits where they can be tripped on, burn pedestrians or start a fire if tipped over.
  8. Do not use an extension cord with your space heater.
  9. Do not leave an operating space heater unattended. Turn it off and unplug it when you leave the room or go to sleep.
  10. Do not leave children or pets alone with an operating space heater.

Always follow the space heater manufacturer’s instructions!

  • Replace worn cords.
  • Do not run cords under rugs.
  • Do not overload outlets.

How would you and your family get out of your home if there were a fire? How would they escape from the second or third floor? What would you do after everyone is out of the house?

Everyone in your household should know two ways out of every room in your home. Here’s how to do your own Operation EDITH Plan:

  1. First you must have a plan. Every member of the family must be involved in developing your own Operation EDITH Plan.
  2. Appoint a Fire Chief. The Fire Chief can be your father, mother, teen-aged brother or sister, or even the babysitter.
  3. The family visits each bedroom and picks 2 WAYS OUT- one the normal way out and the emergency route, through a different door or window.
  4. Plan how each member of the family can reach the ground using the emergency route.
  5. Decide on a meeting place outside the house such as near the mailbox or driveway or neighbors house.
  6. Draw a picture of each floor in your home. Show where the rooms, doors, windows, and halls are. Then color the regular escape routes BLUE and the emergency routes RED. Copies should be placed where everyone can see them and be reminded of what to do in a fire emergency.
  7. Practice your Operation EDITH plan.

Emergencies can happen at the least opportune time and can cut you off from what you need most in the emergency. Plan now to gather these basic supplies while you have the time and practice using them. Make a 72-Hour Kit for each member of your family and place them where each member can “grab and run”.

  • Flashlights – battery-operated or the new shake or wind up
  • First Aid Supplies
  • Emergency Radio – battery operated or wind up – one or two for the family
  • Extra Batteries as needed
  • Protective Clothing (gloves, boots, etc.)
  • Food, Water, Prescription Medications, etc.
  • Special Items (For Infants, Elderly, Pets, Etc.)
  • Any other items you may think of that would be necessary for the first few days