Fire Safety Tips

Callaway Fire Safety

Be Careful Cooking

Never leave cooking unattended. Keep cooking area clear of combustibles and wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook. Keep the handles of your pots turned inward so the pots can’t be knocked or pulled over. If grease catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames, then turn off the burner.

Cool a Burn

If someone gets burned, immediately place the wound in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes to ease the pain. Do not use butter on a burn, as this could prolong the heat and further damage the skin. If a burn blisters or chars, see a doctor immediately.

Crawl Low Under Smoke

Smoke is dangerous! If you encounter smoke, use an alternate escape route. If you must exit through smoke, the cleanest air will be several inches off the floor. Get down on your hands and knees, and crawl to the nearest safe exit.

Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors warn you of fire in time to let you escape. Install them on each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, and test once a week. Replace batteries twice a year, or when the detector chirps to signal that the battery is dead. Don’t ever take the battery out for other uses!

Matches & Lighters Are Tools

In the hands of a child, matches or lighters are extremely dangerous. Store them up high where kids can’t reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet. Teach your children from the start that matches and lighters are tools for adults, not toys for kids. If children find matches, they should tell an adult immediately.

Plan and Practice Escape

If fire breaks out in your home, you must get out fast. With your family, plan two ways out of every room. Fire escape routes must not include elevators, which might take you right to the fire! Choose a meeting place outside where everyone should gather. Once you are out, stay out! Have the whole family practice the escape plan at least twice a year.

Practice Candle Safety

Never leave a lit candle unattended in any room of the house, never leave candles burning when you go to bed, and never use candles near combustible materials such as curtains, drapes, bedding, and cabinets.

Space Heaters Need Space

Keep portable space heaters at least three feet from paper, curtains, furniture, clothing, bedding, or anything else that can burn. Never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to bed, and keep children and pets well away from them.

Stop, Drop & Roll

Everyone should know this rule. If your clothes catch fire, don’t run! Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs, and roll over and over to smother the flames.

Use Electricity Safely

If an appliance smokes or begins to smell unusual, unplug it immediately and have it repaired. Check all your electrical cords, and replace any that are cracked or frayed. If you use extension cords don’t overload them or run them under rugs.