The third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths is by fire and burns, stated in the State of Home Safety in America� Report. To reduce the chance of fire in your home, everyone needs to learn about safety measures. One of the biggest dangers in a fire is not having an escape plan. It takes less than 30 seconds for a small flame to become a major fire. Therefore, every second counts because time is your biggest enemy.
Everyone in your family should be aware of the escape plan and know of two ways out of every room in your home. In case of a fire and the primary way out (the door) is blocked by smoke or fire, then the secondary escape should be a window. If your home has a second floor, purchase a collapsible ladder and have it in a convenient location to escape from the upper floor. When purchasing the ladder, make sure it is approved by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). It is important to check windows regularly to make sure they open properly and screens can be removed quickly. Practice your escape route frequently, designate a certain day once a month.
Have a location away from your home where everyone will meet once they are out of the house. Perhaps there is a favorite tree in the yard or you can all meet at the end of the driveway. Once out of the home, do not go back in for any reason. Have an older child go to the neighbors to call the fire department. Finally, have smoke detectors outside every bedroom and check the batteries monthly. Batteries should be replaced at least once a year.
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