Home and family go hand-in-hand. Family memories revolve around things like baking cookies together and celebrating special occasions. You want to do everything possible to keep your home and family safe to create future memories. That’s why taking precautions against home fires is so important.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 3,000 Americans died in home fires in 2005 and nearly 18,000 were injured. Every 80 seconds, a home catches fire, and winter is the most common time of year for home fires. There’s no time like the present to make sure homes and families are prepared.

“No one wants to think about having a fire at home. But thinking about it and being ready for it can and does save lives,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council.

There are several common-sense precautions one can take to prevent fires, Appy says:

* Smoking is the number one cause of fatal fires. Proper disposal of ashes and cigarette butts is essential — douse them with water before disposing. It’s safest to smoke outside.

* More home fires start in the kitchen than any other room of the home. Stay with the range when cooking. Keep anything that can burn, including potholders and food wrappers, at least three feet away from the stovetop while cooking.

* When burning candles make sure they are well away from combustible materials (such as decorations and papers), out of reach of children, and cannot be knocked over by pets. Blow them out when leaving a room or if you get sleepy. Don’t permit children to keep candles in their rooms and supervise them if you permit them to light candles for the family.

* Portable heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least three feet away. Turn portable heaters off when you are ready to sleep or if you leave the room.

* Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. If young children live in or visit your home, keep all matches and lighters out of sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. Teach young children not to touch them, and adolescents to resist peer pressure and not to play with fire if curious or bored.

* Hire a professional to inspect chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Clean them when necessary.

Should a fire break out, smoke alarms are the first line of defense. Make sure to have one outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home — and inside sleeping areas if doors are kept closed when sleeping. Test each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately.

Another option that is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners is home fire sprinkler systems. Fire sprinklers help save lives by putting a small amount of water on the flames when the fire starts. Sprinklers extinguish the fire completely or contain it until firefighters arrive — providing the ultimate protection from fire for both lives and property. Fire sprinklers can also save money on insurance premiums. It’s an important option to discuss with builders during the home construction process.

“Installing a home fire sprinkler system when building a home typically costs less than $2 per square foot — a small price to pay for protecting family and property,” says Darren Palmieri of Tyco Fire & Building Products, manufacturer of the Rapid Response home fire sprinkler system. He also points out that homeowners have a growing choice of looks and finishes for sprinkler systems to blend with décor.

While smoke alarms activate based on smoke levels, fire sprinklers activate only in response to the high temperature of a fire; smoke cannot cause a sprinkler to operate. There are other misconceptions about fire sprinklers. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire source operates. Typically, only one sprinkler is needed to extinguish a home fire. Contrary to what has been shown in the movies, sprinklers do not activate all at once, and a sprinkler will not activate if a piece of toast is burnt.

For more information on fire safety, contact your local fire department, or use the Internet: www.homesafetycouncil.org, www.homefiresprinkler.org and www.nfpa.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Every Family Needs an Escape Plan

Having a family escape plan in place is an important part of fire safety. Here’s how to put one together.

* Talk with family members about the best ways to get outside quickly. Each person should know two ways to get out of every room. If you live in a large building, know all of the ways to get out fast. Consider purchasing escape ladders for bedrooms on the second and third stories.

* Choose a meeting place that is outside and in front of the home. Make sure everyone knows to head there in case of a fire.

* Small children, older adults, and people with disabilities will need help to escape a fire. As part of your plan, assign an adult to be assist those who are not able to wake up and escape quickly on their own.

* Practice what to do if there is smoke: Crouch or crawl below the smoke and follow the escape route.

* Once a plan is in place, practice a family fire drill frequently.

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