Fire Do’s & Don’ts — for Safety’s Sake:
Do’s:
Make sure that everyone knows two ways out of every room. Teach children to crawl on their hands and knees in an effort to stay low under smoke. Close doors behind you to slow the spread of fire and smoke. Plan a meeting spot outside the house, at a neighbor’s or in a special place in the yard a good distance from the house. Teach kids that once they get outside, they should stay outside. Hold frequent fire drills, including some at night and make sure everyone is following the plan perfectly. Assign someone to call 911. Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home. Replace the batteries every six months.
Don’ts:Do not rely on one way to escape from your home. Do not forget about the levels of your home. Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second and third floor. Do not assume everyone will remember how to exit your home during a fire. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. Do not reenter a burning building. Nothing is as valuable as your life. Do not open a door without feeling it first. If it is warm, the fire is nearby and you could cause the greater risk of spreading the fire and injuring yourself.