• Install smoke detectors and test them monthly to make sure they are in good working order.
• Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. Monitor smokers and, if you smoke, don’t smoke in bed. Check under and around cushions and furniture for smoldering cigarettes.
• Be careful when you cook, and never leave cooking unattended. Central’s number one type of fire are kitchen fires Plan a safe escape from fire and practice your escape drill. Make sure everyone in your home knows at least two ways out of every room.
• Keep portable heaters and space heaters at least three feet away from combustibles. Never leave them on when you leave home or go to bed.
• Remember: matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Keep them out of the reach of children
• Cool a burn. Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes, but never apply ice, butter or other grease to a burn. If burned skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately.
• Use electricity safely. Unplug malfunctioning appliances, replace frayed or cracked electrical cords, and don’t run cords under rugs or across walkways. Most importantly, never use electric appliances in or near water.
• Crawl low in smoke. During a fire, smoke and poisonous gases rise with the heat. Cleaner, safer air is near the floor.
• Remember: Stop, Drop and Roll. If your clothes catch on fire, don’t run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face, and roll over and over to smother the flames.

• Knowing what to do before a fire occurs can save your life. Develop an escape plan for your family — and practice it — today. Draw a floor plan and know at least two exits from every room. If one is a window, be sure every family member knows how to open it and that it opens easily.
• If you live or work in a high-rise building, know the location of the exit stairs. Never take the elevator during a fire.
• Designate a meeting place at a safe distance outside the home.
• Practice your fire escape plan with fire drills at least once every six months.

But you CAN get out alive with the help of a simple device — a smoke detector. By alerting you to the fire and giving you time to escape, smoke detectors can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.

Dozens of brands of smoke detectors are sold in hardware, department and discount stores. Whatever kind you buy, make sure it bears the label of approval from an independent testing laboratory.

Four-fifths of all fire deaths occur at home and, according to a study by the National Institute of Standards Technology, 60 to 70 percent of those deaths could be prevented by adding sprinkler systems to houses and apartments.

New standards have made these residential sprinkler systems both more affordable and more practical. In addition, residential sprinkler systems can result in a significant reduction in homeowner’s and rental insurance.

Minimum protection requires a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. If someone in the house sleeps with the bedroom door closed, also install a smoke detector in the bedroom.

Smoke detectors wired to high-intensity strobes or that vibrate under the pillow should be used by those with a hearing impairment.

Remember: Only a working smoke detector can protect you. Test your smoke detector weekly, clean it regularly and install new batteries at least once a year. Never borrow the smoke detector batteries for other uses.

If you are awakened by the smoke detector alarm, get out of bed and crawl low under the smoke. The heat and smoke is intense in a fire; you will not be able to see, and temperatures at the ceiling could reach more than 600 degrees Fahrenheit – enough to kill you immediately.

If your door is closed, feel the door with the palm of your hand. If it is not hot, brace yourself against the door and open it slowly. If there is fire on the other side, close the door and seek another escape route.

If it is safe to leave the room, stay low and get out by the quickest and safest route.

• Put a damp cloth over your nose and mouth to make it easier to breathe.
• Crawl to a window and open it carefully to let in fresh air. If smoke begins to enter through the open window, close it immediately.
• If it is safe to have the window open, wave a sheet, clothing or other bright object to attract attention. You also can hang the sheet or cloth out of the window.
• If there is a telephone in the room, call 9-1-1 to let emergency personnel know where you are. If not, yell out the window and make noise to attract attention.