Smoking and Fire
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) shows that smoking is the leading cause
of home fire deaths in the country. Fires that are caused by smoking usually occur from
a person smoking inside their home, so it is best to smoke outside. You should always
use ashtrays with a wide base that are difficult to knock over, and ashtrays outside
should be filled with sand.
Children and Fire
~Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short periods
of time.
~Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
~Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
~Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence your child may be
playing with fire.
~Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and designate a
meeting place outside.
~Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
~Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY!
~Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help
from another location.
~Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the
house and stay out in the case of fire.
~Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
~Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
(http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/parents/curious.shtm)
(
http://www.sparky.org/#/Sparky)
General Fire Safety Tips
These tips will probably only be a reminder, but these are necessary steps to take
toward fire safety.
~Plan an escape route, and practice it. (You need to have a couple of plans depending
on where the fire is.)
~Do not stop to gather possessions, they can be replaced, your life cannot be.
~When attempting to go through a doorway with a closed door, feel the door with
the back of your hand before opening it. The fire could be just on the other side of it.
If the door is hot to the touch do not open it, and escape another way.
~If you haven't already done so, you should install battery-operated smoke alarms, at
least one on every floor.
~Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once a year.
~Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Family Insurance
1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300
Norman, OK 73071
Phone: 329-9780
Fax: 329-1578