Make fire safety a “family business” by involving the entire family in a fire safety inspection. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to use as a guide.

Fire Hazards:Check for fire hazards in your home. Correct any problems NOW.

Kitchen

• Matches stored out of reach of children.
• No overloaded outlets or extension cords.
• No curtains or towel racks close to the range.
• Flammable liquids (cleaning fluids, contact adhesives, etc.) or aerosols stored away from the range or other heat source. (Remember, even a pilot light can set vapors on fire.)
• No attractive or frequently used items stored above the range where someone could get burned reaching for them (especially small children in search of cookies or other goodies).
• No worn or frayed appliance or extension cords.

Living Room, Family Room, Den, Bedrooms

• Matches and lighters stored out of reach of children.
• Matches and lighters stored out of reach of children.
• Use only large ashtrays (small ashtrays are too dangerous).
• Empty ashtrays frequently (when all signs of heat and burning are gone).
• Fireplace kept screened and cleaned regularly.
• Replace worn or frayed extension cords or other electrical cords.
• No extension cords run under rugs or carpets or looped over nails or other sharp objects that could cause them to fray.
• Heating equipment kept three feet away from curtains, furniture, and papers.
• No overloaded outlets or extension cords.

Basement, Garage, Storage Areas

• No newspapers or other rubbish stored near furnace, water heater, or other heat source.
• No oily, greasy rags stored, except when kept in labeled and sealed non-glass containers (preferably metal).
• No gasoline stored in the house or basement (It should be stored away from the house in an outbuilding and only in safety cans that have flame arresters and pressure-relief values.)
• No flammable liquids stored near workbench or pilot light or in anything other than labeled, sealed metal containers. (This includes varnish, paint remover, paint thinner, contact adhesives, cleaning fluids, etc.)
• No overloaded outlets or extension cords.
• All fuses of the correct size.

Dangerous Actions:

Do you allow unsafe habits? These guidelines may help your family become more safety aware.

• Wear close-fitting sleeves while cooking. (No loose sleeves, shins, blouses or skirts that may catch fire.)
• Never leaving cooking unattended.
• Never play with matches or lighters.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire in the grill or add lighter fluid to an already started fire.
• No smoking in bed, or in a chair or on the sofa when tired, drinking, or taking medication.
• Never spray aerosols while smoking or near a space heater, range or other ignition source.
• No smoking while using a cleaning fluid, paint thinner or other flammable liquid.
• Never use a cigarette lighter after spilling flammable fluid on your hands or clothing.
• Never reach over a range or climb onto a range to get something stored above it.
• Never lean against a range for warmth or stand too close to a heater or fireplace.
• Never let a small child blow out a match.
• Never use a lighted match, lighter or candle to illuminate a dark area, such as a closet.

Safety Measures: Do you have these safety items in your home?