Safety Reference Guides

Home Fire Prevention

Thankfully, most people will never experience the devastating effects of a home or apartment fire. However, if you have been the unfortunate victim of a fire, you know the feelings of panic, chaos and utter despair a fire can bring about. It is probably one of the most frightening experiences that anyone will ever have. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make your residence more safe for you and your family and avoid a potential fire.

Smoking Rules

• If any member of your family is a smoker, make sure that the bed is off limits for smoking.
• Matches and lighters should always be kept out of the reach of children.
• Use large, deep ashtrays to prevent smoking materials from falling out and causing a fire.
• Always make sure ashes and butts are completely extinguished before emptying the ashtray.

Smoke Detectors

• Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement.
• Batteries should be replaced twice annually. "Change your clock; change the smoke detector batteries."
• Test your smoke detectors at least once a month.
• Keep your smoke detectors free from dust and cobwebs.

Electrical Fires

• Allow only qualified electricians to install or extend wiring.
• Contact an electrician if you are blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers on a regular basis.
• Make sure that there are enough outlets in each room to avoid overloading any socket.
• Extension cords should never be placed under rugs.
• Keep portable space heaters at least three feet from combustibles, and never leave them on when you leave home or go to bed.

Housekeeping Hazards

• Flammables, such as gasoline, should not be stored in the home or basement.
• Maintain your stairways clear of combustible materials and slip, trip or fall hazards.
• Have your central heating system inspected and cleaned annually.
• Perform an annual cleaning of your fireplaces and wood stoves.
• Garage Storage Areas & Outdoor Surroundings
• Dispose or store oily rags in tightly sealed and labeled metal containers.
• Store gasoline only in containers designed and approved for gasoline storage.
• Store paint, varnishes and other flammables sealed tightly in their original containers.
• Store wood for wood stoves and fireplaces away from your home.
• Maintain your yard and surrounding free of leaf and weed piles and combustible rubbish.

Exit Drills from the House

• Draw a floor plan of your home showing all doors, windows, and obstacles.
• Plan two exits out of every room in the house. If an exit involves an upper-story window, make sure there is a safe way to reach the ground.
• Practice your escape route to make sure all exits are accessible to all members of the household.
• Decide on a meeting place outside of your home and away from the building.
• Once out, stay out! Do not go back into your home for any reason. Books, clothes, and even pets are replaceable; you are not.
• Call 911 from a neighbor's telephone, and clearly give your full name and address.

Survival Tips

• Sleep with the bedroom door closed to provide protection against heat, smoke and gases.
• Test doors with he back of your hand before opening. If the door is hot, use an alternate escape route.
• Because smoke and hot gases rise, stay low tot he floor when exiting a burning building. Crawl on your hands and knees while keeping your head twelve to twenty-four inches above the floor. Breathe through a cloth (wet, if possible) and take short, shallow breaths.
• If your clothes catch on fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll to smother the flames.
• Finally, if you have small children, take them to your local fire department to meet the firefighters. Have the firefighters show the children their protective clothing and breathing apparatus, and if possible, have the firefighters don their gear. Frequently during a fire, children will hide under the bed or in a closet. If a child if unprepared for the sight of a firefighter wearing all of this gear, he may appear to look like Darth Vader or a monster, causing the terrified child to stay hidden or even run from their rescuer.

Source: Health & Safety Newsletter, Department of Administration, Bureau of State Risk Management, and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, Fall/Winter 2000.