Fire Prevention and Safety
Care@Home™ Smoke Detector User Guide
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Decide on a meeting place that is a safe distance from the residence. Make sure that all the
children understand that they should go to the meeting place and wait there, in the event of a
fire.
Hold fire drills at least every six months to make sure that everyone knows what to do to
escape safely, even small children.
Know where to go to call the fire department from outside the residence.
Obtain emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, and teach the children to use the
equipment properly.
How to Escape if a Fire Occurs
Review the following rules with the children each time there is a fire drill.
Stay calm and try not to panic
. Their safe escape may depend on thinking clearly and
remembering what they have practiced.
Get out of the house as quickly as possible
. Follow a planned escape route. Do not stop to
collect anything or to get dressed.
Feel the doors to see if they are hot.
If they are not hot, open them carefully. Do not open a
door that is hot. Use an alternate escape route.
Stay close to the floor
. Smoke and hot gas rise.
Cover your nose and mouth with a wet or damp cloth.
Take short, shallow breaths.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Open them only to escape.
Meet at the planned meeting place
, after leaving the house.
Call the fire department as soon as possible from outside the residence.
Give the
emergency operator a name and address.
Never go back inside a burning building.
Contact the local fire department to get more information on how to prevent fires in the residence.
Limitations of Smoke Alarms
Although smoke detectors and alarms play a key role in reducing damage resulting from home fires,
they can only work if they are properly located, installed, and maintained.
Smoke alarms may not be heard if residents are hearing impaired.
Special smoke alarms, such as those with both visual and audible alarms, should be installed for
hearing impaired residents.
