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To reduce fire danger in your home

• Install and maintain smoke alarms
  • Smoke alarms warn you of a fire in time to let you escape.
  • Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, especially near each sleeping area.
  • Test smoke alarms regularly and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Replace weak or dead batteries immediately with new ones.
  • Remember, if your smoke alarms are hardwired they will not function during a power failure - consider installing a backup battery powered smoke alarm as an additional asset to your home.

• Plan and practice your escape
  • Prepare and practice a fire escape plan with every member of your household.
  • Look for two ways out of each room.
  • Arrange an outside meeting place and a safe location to call 9-1-1.
  • If you live in a multi-storey building, in the event of fire, don't use elevators.

• Space heaters need space
  • Keep portable and space heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) from anything that can burn.
  • Never leave heaters on when you leave the house or go to bed.
  • Keep children well away from heaters.

• Smoking is hazardous
  • Set up a designated smoking area outside with large, deep ashtrays, and soak the butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
  • Ask smokers to take it outside to reduce the risk of indoor fires and protect people from being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke.
  • Smokers need watchers. Before going to sleep, check under and around sofa cushions and upholstered furniture for smouldering cigarettes.

• Be careful when cooking
  • Be alert when you cook, and keep children out of the way.
  • Don't wear loose fitting clothing and be careful not to reach over hot burners.
  • Never leave cooking unattended.
  • If a pot catches fire, cover it with a lid to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
  • Keep pot handles turned inward.

• Matches and lighters are for adults
  • Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
  • Teach children that matches and lighters are only for adults.

• Use electricity safely
  • If an appliance smokes or smells like it is burning, unplug it immediately and have it repaired.
  • Check all of your electrical cords and replace any that are cracked or frayed.
  • Don't overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under rugs or carpets.
  • Don't tamper with the fuse boxes or use fuses of improper size.

• Cool a burn
  • If someone gets burned, immediately run cool water over the wound for 5 to 10 minutes to ease the pain.
  • If the burn is blistered or charred, see a doctor immediately.

• Stop, drop and roll
  • If your clothes catch fire, don't run.
  • Stop where you are,
  • Drop gently to the ground,
  • Cover your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs,
  • Roll over and over until to the flames are smothered.

• Crawl low under smoke
  • If you get caught in smoke, the cleanest air will be near the floor.
  • Get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest safe exit.

• Power failures
  • When power fails don't use open flames or a charcoal grill indoors.
  • Don't use gas-fuelled appliances as alternative heating sources indoors.
  • If you plan to use a portable generator, don't connect household items to the generator unless you have it wired professionally - don't hook the generator up to your home's electrical system.
  • Be sure the generator is kept outside where exhaust doesn't enter buildings.
  • Test your smoke alarms now - remember, if they're hardwired they won't function during a power failure - install backup battery-powered smoke alarms for additional protection.

In case of fire or an emergency, call 9-1-1.