1. Get Out. Fire grows at amazing speed. If a fire starts, just get out quickly. Don't stop for anything. There should be a designated meeting location outside away from the home. Go there. Once you are safely outside, call the fire department. Know two ways out of every room. Smoke or flames may block one way. Stay Out. Call 911 from a cell phone or from a neighbor.

2. Crawl Low IF YOU ENCOUNTER SMOKE: If you encounter smoke while escaping, use your second way out. If you must escape through smoke, crawl or get as low as you can. More breathable air will be near the ground under the smoke.

3. BEFORE YOU OPEN A DOOR, TEST THE DOOR TO DETERMINE IF THE FIRE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE: Before opening a door, make sure there is no fire on the other side. Reach up high, and use the back of your hand to touch the door, the doorknob, and the space between the door and the frame. If any of these feels hot, use your second way out. If everything feels cool, open the door carefully so that you can slam it shut if heat or smoke rushes in.

4. If You ARE TRAPPED: If you cannot get out safely, close all doors between you and the fire and smoke. Stuff cracks around doors and cover all vents to keep smoke out. If there is a telephone in the room or you have a cell phone with you, call 911, report the fire, and tell them exactly where you are trapped. If possible, signal by waving a light-colored cloth.

5. Stop, Drop, and Roll: If your clothes catch fire, do not run. Drop to the ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames, covering your face with your hands. If your disability would prevent you from doing this, then try to keep a fire-resistant blanket or rug nearby, which, in case of a fire, you or someone else could use to smother the flames. Do not try to smother flames with your hands. Cool the burn with water and call for help.

6. Take burns seriously: Burns are often more serious than they originally appear. Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes. Never apply ice. Never put butter or any other grease on a burn. They trap the heat in the skin. If the burned skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately. Inform your doctor about burns that begin to look infected.

PREVENT FIRES:

1. INSTALL ALARMS: In the event of fire smoke alarms are your best early warning system. About two-thirds of the U.S, residential fire deaths occur in the 18% of homes without smoke alarms. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, install one inside your sleeping area as well. Most fatal fires at home occur while people sleep.
Properly maintain your alarms. Test the alarms every month and replace batteries once a year, or whenever an alarm begins to "chirp", signaling low battery power. Pick a day that is easily remembered like your birthday or January first, as the day for battery replacement. Don’t remove a smoke alarm's battery for another use – an inoperative alarm won't save your life. Replace alarms that are more than 10 years old. For more complete home protection, consider installing carbon monoxide detectors or an automatic fire sprinkler system.

2 PLAN AND PRACTICE YOUR ESCAPE: If a fire occurs in your home, you have to get out fast. Sit down with your family and work out an escape plan in advance. Be sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed exits - including windows - from every room. (If you live in an apartment building, use the stairs, not the elevator to escape from fire.) Decide on a meeting place outside. Have your entire household practice your escape plan at least twice a year. Make sure that windows open freely, that window screens can be taken out quickly and that any security bars can be properly opened. Try feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed to simulate fire conditions when smoke hampers your ability to see objects or it is dark.

3. MATCHES – LIGHTERS – SMOKING: Matches and lighters are for adults, not children. Store them in places not accessible to children – up high out or sight and reach, or in locked areas. Use only child-resistant lighters. Teach children that matches and lighters aren’t toys. They are tools, for grown-ups only. Ask young children to tell a grown-up when they find matches or lighters. Ask older children who find matches and lighters to bring them to an adult immediately.

4. COOK SAFELY – INSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Never leave cooking unattended. NEVER. Stay near cooking so you can monitor it closely. Frying foods can be especially hazardous. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles. Stoves are not for storage. Items placed on adjacent counter areas should be free of items that might start or contribute to a fire. Things do get knocked over or spilled. When cooking wear clothing with short, rolled-up, or tight fitting sleeves. Loose sleeves, and flowing robes or aprons could touch a burner, catching fire. Turn pot handles inward on the stove so you won't bump them and so children can't grab them. Severe burns can result when pots are tipped over, even if a fire does not result. Establish a "kid-free" area around your kitchen range or outside grill. In the event of a "grease fire" in a pan, slide a lid over the pan. That will smother the flames. Turn off the heat source. Leave the lid on the pan until the pan is cool. Do not put aluminum foil or other metals in a microwave oven.

5. Space heaters: Keep portable heaters and space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including your clothing. When clothing comes in contact with some heaters, the clothing may ignite. Establish a "kid-free" area around the heater. Keep pets away from heaters. Turn heaters off when you leave home or go to sleep. Follow the manufacturers' instructions for installing, operating, refueling, and cleaning your space heater.

6. ELECTRIC DEVICES: Electric devices that are smoking or producing an unusual smell should be unplugged immediately. Have the device serviced before you try to use it again. Cracked or frayed electric cords should be replaced. Don’t overload extension cords. Keep extension cords out of trafficked areas and avoid running any cords under rugs. Some buildings still have fuse boxes. The ratings for fuses and circuit breakers are designed based on the wiring in the building. Tampering with them such as using an improper fuse size could result in wires overheating and cause a fire. Don’t tamper with them nor use improper-size fuses.

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/kidspage.htm

NFPA FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION WEBSITES: The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. They've been the official sponsors of Fire Prevention Week since 1922

http://www.nfpa.org/Home/index.asp

http://www.nfpa.org/sparky/

http://www.nfpa.org/riskwatch/

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/public/facts.cfm

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/public/recalls.cfm

FIRST ALERT CORPORATION MATERIALS: MANUFACTURER OF SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

http://www.firstalert.com/

http://www.firstalert.com/customer_service/safe_home/safe_home.htm

http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/ctyreports/general.pdf

http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/Fire/homesafety.htm