The Forsyth County Fire Department is pleased to provide the following fire safety tips to be practiced in October, which is National Fire Safety Month, and throughout the year...
Protect your family with these smart fire safety tips.
Taking the time to review a few simple fire safety tips can have a big impact, according to the Forsyth County Fire Department.
"These safety tips may seem simple, but they can play a significant role in saving lives," said Fire Chief Danny Bowman.
"I encourage parents to talk to their children about fire safety," continued Bowman. "Include kids in the planning and practicing of emergency escape routes from your home, teach them about dialing 911 and teach them never to play with matches or lighters."
The Forsyth County Fire Department is pleased to provide the following fire safety tips to be practiced in October, which is National Fire Safety Month, and throughout the year:
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home so that family members can hear them wherever they are.
• Never disconnect smoke alarms or borrow the batteries.
• Test smoke detectors once a month and replace the batteries at least twice a year.
• Families should plan and practice two escape routes from each room of their home.
• Never smoke in bed or when drowsy.
• Wear clothes with short or snug sleeves while cooking so that they won’t catch fire.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of reach of children.
• Keep combustible materials, such as kitchen towels and newspapers, away from heat sources, such as candles, burners and portable heaters.
• Children should cook only under the supervision of an adult or with their permission.
• Pots on stovetops should always have their handles turned toward the center of the stove, where children cannot reach up and pull or knock them off.
• Have professionals check the fireplace and furnace annually, and clean if necessary.
• Teach children to turn off lights, stereos, TVs, and other electrical equipment when they are finished using them. In the case of room heaters, children should ask an adult to turn it off when the room will be empty.
• Keep fire in the fireplace. Use fire screens and have your chimney cleaned annually. The creosote buildup can ignite a chimney fire that could easily spread.
• Don’t overload electrical circuits or extension cords.
• Do not place cords and wires under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas.
• In case of fire, leave your home immediately. Don’t try to save anything. Call 911 from a neighbor’s house.
The Forsyth County Fire Department encourages residents to visit their neighborhood fire station. This can be an excellent opportunity for children to interact with firefighters and learn more about fire safety.