Reading PA Fire Recent Calls

Most burn injuries happen in the home. This checklist will help you evaluate your home environment and develop good burn safety habits.

KITCHEN

Do you:

• Avoid wearing loose-fitting long sleeves when cooking?
  
• Know what to do if your clothing should catch fire? --Stop - Drop - Cover - Roll
  
• Have good lighting in the kitchen and work areas?
  
• Always keep pot handles turned inward?
  
• Keep a large lid within reach when frying to extinguish grease fires?
  
• Use large potholders or oven mitts?
  
• Avoid leaving food to cook unattended?

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Do you:

• Dry your hands before using electrical appliances?
  
• Use electrical appliances on dry surfaces away from water?
  
• Unplug appliances when not in use?
  
• Check lamp and appliance cords for fraying and/or brittle insulation? Replace worn cords.
  
• Avoid overloading outlets?
  
• Use extension cords only for temporary connections?

SMOKING MATERIALS

Do you:

• Use caution with smoking materials?
  
• Avoid smoking when in bed, tired, ill, or when consuming alcohol,
  or medication that makes you drowsy?
  
• Use large, safe ashtrays with islands?
  
• Have safe ashtrays in all smoking areas?
  
• Have smoke detectors in rooms frequently used by smokers?
  
• Empty ashtrays into a metal container?
  
• Check areas where people smoke for live cigarettes or ashes?

HOUSEKEEPING

Do you:

• Keep fire escape routes free of clutter?
  
• Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children?
  
• Store combustibles/flammable materials such as paint thinner and solvents
  in original, tightly-closed containers, away from ignition sources?
  
• Unplug all electrical tools when not in use?

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Do you have

• Emergency phone numbers and other pertinent information posted close to your telephone?
  
• An emergency escape plan for your home - and practice it frequently?
  
• If you live with others, does it include an outdoor meeting place?
  
• Alternate routes for your escape, if the main routes are blocked?

  When you report a fire

  • Give your name and telephone number.
  • Identify the problem - fire, number of people trapped, etc.
  • Provide address and location - including house number, street name and municipality

SMOKE DETECTORS

Have you installed smoke detectors:

• On each level of your house?
  
• On the ceiling just outside your bedroom door?
  
• In rooms frequently used by smokers?

  Do you:

  • Test battery-operated smoke detectors every month?
  • Change smoke detector batteries each year?

PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONE FROM BURNS.
SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS!

information provided by The Burn Foundation

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