Fire Safety Checklist

In All Areas of Your Home

• Cover all unused electrical outlets.
• Arrange electrical cords so they neither dangle loosely nor entangle with one another.
• Matches, lighters, and all flammable materials should be kept out of the reach of children.
• Radiator covers should be made of a non-heat absorbent material.
• Wood stoves and fireplaces should have screens and a gate, so that children cannot wander too close.
• Fireplaces and, especially, chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by a reputable professional every year.
• There should be a smoke detector installed on every level of your home and in the hallways leading to the bedrooms.  It is an extra precaution to have them installed in each bedroom.
• Set the thermostats on water heaters between 135 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Formulate an escape plan for every room in your home, with an alternate plan in case the first option is blocked by fire. Practice these escapes until every member of your family can
  perform them automatically.
• Set up a safe place to meet outside.
• Keep flammable materials away from heat sources.
• Try to use non-flammable or fire-resistant materials for curtains and upholstery.
• Use space heaters only on noncombustible surfaces and at least three feet from furniture and walls.
• Store all flammable and combustible products in cool, well ventilated places, locked securely and/or out of the reach of children.

Basement and Garage

• Flammable liquids such as fuels should not be kept in the house.
• Keep paints, thinners, and other combustible chemicals out of child's reach. Ideally, these materials should be kept in a locked metal cabinet, away from heat sources.
• Keep dirty rags in a sealed metal can or dispose of them.
• When not in actual use, lawn mowers and all gas powered appliances should be stored empty.
• Keep electrical outlets covered and do not leave anything plugged in, when not in use.
• Store gasoline only in metal cans approved by your fire department.

Kitchen

• Turn pot handles in while using burners on the stove.
• Store cleansers and other chemicals out of child's reach, in cabinets with childproof locks.
• Make sure children are not near when working with hot liquids.
• Keep cookies and sweets away from the stove.
• Make sure electrical cords are not hanging over the counter and appliances are unplugged when not in use.
• Keep fire extinguisher near farthest exit from the stove.
• Do not use water to douse a flaming pot. Smother with cover or baking sheet or use fire extinguisher.

Bathrooms

• Tap water should never be hot enough to scald wrist. Run cold water in tub first, and then use hot water to warm to desired temperature.
• Check in on children often. Never leave a child unsupervised for an extended period of time.
• Make sure all medications and chemicals are out of child's reach and/or in child-proof locked cabinets.

Bedrooms

• In case of fire, it's a good practice to keep water in plastic bottles in bedroom closets to dampen cloths for face protection during escape.
• If you have smoke detectors in the hallways, you can sleep with the bedroom doors open.
• Keep drapes away from heat sources, including lamps.
• Keep electrical cords from dangling.
• Try to avoid the use of extension cords. If you must use them, make sure they hug the wall. Under no circumstances should any electric wires cross over the middle of the room.