How to practice fire safety in the home

Practice fire safety in your home, because there's no worse time to realize that your fire extinguisher is on the fritz than during an actual fire.

Step 1: Install and check smoke alarms
Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, and test their batteries monthly. Change the batteries annually, even if they’re still working, to make sure they’re always at full strength.

Step 2: Install fire extinguishers
Contact your local fire department to learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher. Once you’ve been trained, install fire extinguishers on each level of your home, and follow the directions to check their pressure level and parts five or six times a year to make sure they’re working.

Step 3: Keep ladder on 2nd floor
If you have a second floor, keep an emergency ladder that you can use to exit through the windows in an easily accessible location.

Step 4: Check windows
Check the windows periodically to make sure you can open them easily.

Step 5: Agree on a signal
Meet with the members of your household to formulate a plan in case of fire. Agree on a signal you will use to alert each other in case of fire.

Step 6: Plan routes
Plan possible escape routes. It’s best to create a diagram that illustrates the best possible routes out of your home. The best escape plans include two escape routes for each room: one through a door, and the other through a window to an adjacent roof or fire escape.

Step 7: Learn high-rise routes
If you live in a high-rise building, there should be escape routes posted in a common area.

Step 8: Designate someone to help
Designate one or more people to be responsible for evacuating infants and young children, the elderly, pets, or anyone else requiring assistance.

Step 9: Secure easy call for help
Make sure you have a quick way to call for help. Clearly post all emergency numbers in a prominent spot near each phone in your home, and program your local fire department's direct number into your cell phone.