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Fire Safety
Fire Safety
Seniors should be prepared and know exactly what to do and where to go if a fire occurs. Protect yourself and your home from fires with these helpful tips:
Replace smoke
detector batteries twice a year. This is easier to remember if done with the time change in the spring and fall |
- Have a working smoke detector on every level of your home (especially outside of sleep areas). Test them regularly every month and make sure everyone living in the home can hear the smoke alarm. If it is too difficult for you to reach the detector to test it yourself, have a family member or friend test it for you.
- Make a home escape plan or refer to your building’s fire safety plan. You should know two exits out of your home.
- When your smoke detector goes off get out of your home as quickly and safely as possible. Do not stop to gather belongings and once you are out of your home, stay out.
- Sleep with your bedroom door closed because most fires occur in the kitchen and living room. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, you should have a smoke detector installed in your bedroom.
Avoid wearing loose
clothing around the
stove - If you suspect a fire, check doors for heat before opening them. Use the back of your hand and avoid touching the doorknob when checking for heat.
- Turn pot handles inward so you won’t bump them and splatter the hot contents. If possible, cook on the back burners. Treating burns immediately is crucial. Place a minor burn (redness of skin with some pain) in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. If a burn is red, blistered, white or charred, cool it with water and seek medical treatment immediately.
- Most fire victims die from smoke, not flames. Smoke always rises, so get down on the floor and crawl on your hands and knees to safety. If your clothing catches on fire, lower yourself to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to put out the flames. If you can’t do this, grab a towel or blanket and smother the flames.
- Never leave cooking unattended. Turn off burners for interruptions like the telephone, and take along an item from the kitchen, like an oven mitt or timer as a reminder that oven is on.
Matches, lighters and
other smoking
materials should be
kept out of reach of
children - Never smoke in bed or when sleepy.
- Don’t smoke when taking medications that make you drowsy.
- A carbon monoxide detector should be on each floor of your home and tested on a regular basis.
- If you smoke, use large, sturdy ashtrays with a centre support to hold the cigarette. Empty them into a metal container or douse them with water to make sure the embers and butts are completely out and cool before discarding.
- Keep space heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from everything, including you. A slight brush against a heater could set your clothing on fire.
- Always place candles in non-tip candleholders before you light them. Extinguish candles before you leave a room or go to bed. Unattended candles start many fires each year.
If you have any questions about fire safety, contact your local Fire Department.