10 tips for fire safety

1. Keep An Eye On The Stovetop
Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended and keep a close eye
on food cooking inside the oven. Always have a lid nearby to slide over a pan
in case of fire. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires- the majority of
stovetop fires happen because of unattended cooking.

2. Give Space Heaters Space
Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least one metre (three feet) away
from anything that can burn. Heating is the leading cause of reported, home
fires during the winter months of December, January and February.

3. Smokers Need Watchers
Encourage smokers to smoke outside. Provide sturdy, deep ashtrays and
make sure cigarette butts and ashes are out before throwing them away.
Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths and the third leading
cause of home fire injuries.

4. Keep Matches and Lighters Out of Reach
Keep matches and lighters out of the reach and sight of children - up high in a
locked cabinet. Children under age six are the most likely to start fires while
playing with matches and lighters.

5. Inspect Electrical Cords
Inspect electrical cords to make sure they are not pinched behind furniture,
under rugs, or stretched. Replace cords that are cracked, frayed, have
broken plugs, or have loose connections. Electrical distribution equipment is
the fifth leading cause of home fires and the sixth leading cause of home fire
deaths.

6. Be Vigilant When using Candles
Keep candles at least 0.3 metres (one foot) away from anything that can burn
and put them out when you leave the room or go to sleep.
From 1990 to 2001 the number of candle fires has almost tripled.

7. Have a Home Fire Escape Plan
Make a home fire escape plan and practice your plan at least twice a year so
everyone knows what to do in a fire emergency.

8. Install Smoke Alarms
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping
areas. Make sure everyone knows the sound of the alarm. If you sleep with
bedroom doors closed, install interconnected alarms in the bedrooms so
when one sounds, they all sound.

9. Test Smoke Alarms
Test alarms once a smoke and replace their batteries once a year, or when
the alarm "chirps" to tell you its battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that
is more than 10 years old. Replace smoke alarms that use long-life (10-year)
batteries when the alarm chirps or fails to respond to periodic testing. The
batteries in these units cannot be replaced.

10. Get Low and Go
If you must escape through smoke, crawl low on your hands and knees to
your exit, keeping your head 0.3 to 0.6 metres (one to two feet) above the
floor where the air is cleaner.