In the event of a fire, officials estimate you and your family may have as little as two minutes to escape your home once a fire alarm sounds. With so much at stake, there are many good reasons to plan ahead to prevent critical injuries.
Committed to Burn Prevention and Care
Doctors and nurses of University Hospital’s trauma team are uniquely qualified to treat the devastating effects fires have on human lives. We treat children with severe burns at our Level I pediatric trauma center, the only one of its kind in South Texas.
Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
Develop a fire escape plan that involves the entire family, and put these measures in place when you practice:
- Use a stopwatch to time each escape.
- Designate someone to get infants or small children.
- Teach children to avoid smoke by staying low to the ground.
- Demonstrate wedging a towel or blanket under the door to keep smoke out.
- Identify two ways out of any room (door and window).
- Feel the door, doorknob and area around the door cautiously.
- Choose a meeting spot a safe distance from your home.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are the first line of defense against a fire. Keep them in several areas around the house, ideally in the:
- Kitchen
- Laundry room
- Garage
- Master bedroom
Show your kids where the fire extinguisher is in each room and teach them how to use it safely. Practice in a safe outdoor area, like your yard or driveway.
Remember to check and replace any expired extinguishers.
To use a fire extinguisher, remember the PASS acronym:
- Pull the safety pin
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the handle
- Sweep from side to side
Take Fire Precautions in Your Home
Appliances, electronics and candles are some of the most common sources of residential fires. Follow these simple guidelines to avoid these causes of home fires.
Electrical Outlets
To help prevent electrical fires, avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same outlet. Don’t overload your outlets with multiple extension cords or multi-plug adapters, either.
Home Appliances
Major home appliances can cause fires when misused or left unattended.
- Clothes dryers
- Remove lint from the lint trap after each use and check the dryer vent for lint buildup once a year.
- Ovens
- Never leave food in the oven unattended.
- Stoves
- Don’t leave pot holders or hand towels near stovetops.
- Keep a lid handy to smother small grease fires.
Candles
- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable, like wreaths and curtains.
- Always blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Place matches, gasoline and lighters in a safe place out of children’s reach.
- Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters.
Heaters
Take extra precautions during winter months with space heaters and fireplaces.
- Protect your fireplace with an approved glass or metal screen.
- Place space heaters at least 3 feet from anything flammable and never leave them unattended.
- Don’t use your gas stove to heat your home. It’s both a fire hazard and a common source of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes caused more than 7,800 house fires in 2021 and contributed to 275 deaths in the U.S. Prevent smoking-related fires by:
- Smoking outside
- Not smoking when you drink alcohol or take medicine that can make you sleepy
- Putting out cigarettes completely using sand or water
- Never smoking in bed
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms reduce your chances of dying in a house fire by nearly 50%, as long as they work properly.
Maintain Smoke Alarms
- Test your smoke alarms each month.
- Replace smoke alarm batteries twice per year.
- Install smoke alarms with built-in 10-year batteries.
- Install smoke alarms outside bedrooms on every level of your home. Replace and re-install new smoke alarms every 10 years.
Test Smoke Alarms
Involve your kids during a test so they know how to respond to the sound. Then set up an unannounced test – preferably at night – to see if/how your children respond. If they don’t, you’ll be able to create an alternate plan.