With the increase of wildfires over the years, more and more people are learning about fire safety, to help keep themselves protected in case they find themselves in a dangerous situation. The most important thing you should know about fire safety is that most fires are preventable.  That’s why we’re happy to present some fire prevention tips, care of the U.S. Fire Administration, that we think can help protect you and your loved ones from danger.

1. Check your smoke detector. Number one on the list of fire prevention tips on the U.S.F.A. website is that every residence (and business) should have at least one smoke detector.  Test your smoke detector regularly, and change out the batteries often to ensure that it’s working properly.
2. Plan an escape route. An important part of fire safety after the fire has begun is getting yourself and your loved ones to a safe area.  Because fires are scary, there’s a chance that someone can panic.  By defining a clear escape route, and practicing that route with your family, you’re taking an important step in protecting everyone’s lives.
3. Keep an eye on your appliances. Faulty wiring causes about 1000 injuries every year in America. The U.S.F.A.’s list of fire prevention tips recommends that you keep anything with a cord out of high-traffic areas, that you immediately unplug any appliance that emits smoke or a funky smell, and that you call a professional to replace any wires in your home that have shorted out.

By following these fire prevention tips, you’re increasing your chance of injuring yourself during a fire — in fact, you’re increasing your chance of avoiding a fire altogether. If you have small children in the house, try making a game out of planning the escape route, or inviting them to join you when you replace your smoke detector batteries.  If you make fire safety part of your family’s routine, your children are more likely to continue those behaviors as they get older.
National Fire Prevention Week is October 6-12

Another way to teach children to be safe is by celebrating National Fire Prevention Week. It’s sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, and this year the theme is “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” Thousands of people are injured in home fires every year, and those events can cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage. So in keeping with the theme of National Fire Prevention Week, we offer you the following tips for playing it safe in the kitchen.

1.    Always turn your stove off when you leave the kitchen.
2.    Wipe off any grease or spilled food when you’re finished cooking.
3.    Never leave a child unattended in the kitchen.
4.    Consider using oven knob covers if you have young children in your home.
5.    Remove objects from your microwave carefully, to avoid burns from steam or spills
6.    Keep your local fire station’s telephone number handy in the kitchen.
7.    Keep children at least 36” from the oven while you’re using it.
8.    Keep pot and pan handles facing in, to avoid knocking them off the stove top.

Learning about fire safety is important at any age. You may consider asking your local fire department for a tour of their building, or giving a firefighter gift such as an action figure, doll or fire truck to introduce your children to what the fire department does. You can start teaching younger children basic fire prevention tips at a young age, to help encourage a lifelong understanding of the dangers of fire.