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barbecue grills grease free. Make sure
they are properly installed, away from
any combustible materials.
• Keep portable heaters and open flames
such as candles away from combustible
materials.
• Do not allow rubbish to accumulate
inside your home as this provides sources
for combustion.
• Keep a supply of extra batteries on hand
for your battery powered Smoke Alarms.
4
Develop a family escape plan and
practice it with everyone in the household,
including small children if you have them.
• Draw a floor plan of your home, and
find two ways to exit from each room.
There should be one way to get out of
each bedroom without opening the door,
and alternate means of escape from an
upper floor in the event of the stairs being
blocked (such as a fire escape).
• Make sure everyone recognises the
smoke alarm signal and knows how to
react to it.
• If there are small children to consider it
is important to explain to them what the
smoke alarm signal means. Teach them
that they must be prepared to leave the
home by themselves if necessary. Show
them how to check to see if doors are
hot before opening them. Show them
how to stay close to the floor and crawl
if necessary. Show them how to use an
alternative exit if the door is hot and
should not be opened.
• Decide on a meeting place a safe
distance from your house. Again, if
you have them, make sure that all your
children understand that they should go
and wait for you there if there is a fire.
• Hold fire drills at least every 6 months to
make sure that everyone, including small
children, know what to do to escape
safely.
• Know where to go to call the Fire
Brigade from outside your home. Contact
your local Fire Brigade. They will give
you more ideas about how to make your
home safer from fires and how to plan
your family’s escape.
