• Does each level of you of your home have a smoke detector?

• Does your family test smoke detectors regularly?

    

     (Remember A smoke detector that doesn’t work is like not having

  any smoke detector at all !)

•  

• Does each area have an operational fire extinguisher? kitchen?, work?, Shop?, Family room.

• My fire department emergency telephone number is:

• Does your family know how to report a fire?

         (Remember to call the fire department from outside. give name

        location and type fire clearly).

• Does your family plan and practice a fire exit drill from all areas of the house?

             (Know 2 ways out from and have a meeting place away from the

        house).

• Is the kitchen cooking area free of oil and grease?

             (Check under the burners and hood).

• Does your family know how to fight a grease fire?

              (Never pour water on It. smother it with a lid or use a fire

       extinguisher).

• When working in the kitchen dose your family, wear safe clothing and use potholders?

              (Never wear loose clothing draping sleeves may ignite after

        brushing against a burner)

• Is no smoking in bed a rule in your home?

            (Make sure matches and smoking materials are out before disposing

        of them)

• Does your family knows what to do when in their bedroom and a fire breaks out?

(Stay low feel the door to see if hot; opening it could kill you, oxygen would be added to the fire allowing it to spread into your bedroom. If door is hot use alternate escape route).

• Speaking of alternate escape routes can your family open bedroom windows easily in case of fire emergency?

           (Make sure windows are not painted shut and do not stick)

• Do you have the furnace cleaned and maintained regularly?

           (Keep a record and have it serviced and checked by an authorized

        technician).

• Does your family keep the furnace area free of trash papers, paint etc.?

            (Use metal containers for ashes)

• Do you make certain your electrical outlets are not overloaded?

            (Use only ground heavy-duty extension cords).

• Is there a smoke detector in your workshop?

• Is there a fire extinguisher in your workshop?

• When storing paint, varnish etc., do you keep the contents tightly closed?

            (Make sure contents are stored in original containers).

• If your garage is attached to the house, is it separated by a tight-fitting door, which is kept, closed?

            (Many homes are installed a certified doors between living area

• Does your family store gasoline in a strong metal safety can and keep it in a protected area away from house and garage?

• Does your family let the lawn mower engine cool before refilling the tank?

             (Also let lawn and garden equipment cool down before storing in

       garage or shed)

• Does your family discard old waste oil solvents flammable liquids etc. properly?

Each year residential fires kill an average 5,000 people, injure an additional 21,000 and destroy over $3.5 billion in property. That translates into over 13 deaths and 57 injuries each day! The sad truth is that most of this devastation could be avoided if each household would eliminate fire hazards. Install, as well as, maintain smoke detectors. 

of the nation’s fire casualties-and no wonder. In the confusion 

of a fire, families often become separated. All too frequently the result is a

child

The basis for the program is the TOT FINDER decal. Highly visible during the day and reflective from a light source at night, the attractive decal clearly marks the location of a child’s room. Should fire strike, the decal alerts firefighters to clear marked areas first.

     Primary location for the weather-resistant decals are:

The TOT FINDER decal can also mark the rooms of invalids and other family members

See your local fire department. They will be happy to offer you fire safety advice. If one life is saved, the TOT FINDER program is a great success.

FACT SHEET: WINTER DRIVING

  http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazards/wndrvfs.pdf

The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation
accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing
how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter
driving.

As the weather gets colder and more people crank up their thermostats, fire safety officials are warning them to beware of carbon monoxide poisoning.

In the Lansing area, 15 people were treated in hospitals in two separate carbon monoxide poisoning incidents Saturday.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel, such as for home heating and cooking. More carbon monoxide poisonings are reported in winter, when use of furnaces and fuel-burning appliances rises.

Mild carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms resemble the flu. If left untreated, it can lead to difficulty breathing and death.

"I would advise anyone who is having flu like symptoms to get out of the house," said Lt. Mark Ford at Port Huron's Central Fire Station.

About 200 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Fire safety experts recommend annual inspections of furnaces, stoves, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances. They also recommend installing a carbon monoxide detector.

Lt. Ford said Port Huron firefighters are anticipating more calls about carbon monoxide detectors going off, now that residents have begun using their furnaces.

He said the department receives the majority of those calls in cold weather. Of the seven calls city firefighters have responded to since Jan. 1, only two were for malfunctioning detectors. Firefighters use meters to detect and pinpoint the source of the gas.

Nine residents of the Villas of Woodgate in Lansing -- seven adults and two children -- were treated Saturday for carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters went to the apartment after several residents said they felt ill.

About an hour later in Ingham County's Delhi Township, a girl ran to a neighbor's home complaining that her family was ill. Firefighters took two adults and four children to the hospital.

A faulty furnace is suspected in both cases.

Lt. Ford said based on what he has seen, 50% to 60% of Port Huron homes have carbon monoxide detectors, including his own house.

SOURCE: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, tent or other enclosure.

Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent.

Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even if you leave the garage door open.

Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills and tools. Always refer to the owner's manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances.

Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens or clothes dryers for heating your home.

Never operate un vented fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in any room where people are sleeping.

Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors. If use is unavoidable, ensure adequate ventilation is available and, whenever possible, place engine unit to exhaust outdoors.

HOME FIRE SAFETY TIPS