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Is Your Home Safe from Fire?

The answer may surprise you.

Fire hazards may be lurking in your home where you least expect them. Take a few minutes to inspect your home for fire hazards. As you go from room to room, circle your responses to the questions below.

 

Cooking Safety

 

  Yes    No

Does an adult always stay in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove?

 

  Yes    No

Are stove tops and nearby counters clear and uncluttered?

 

  Yes    No

Do you keep a proper fitting lid near the stove when you are cooking?

 

   Yes    No

Are pot handles turned inward so they can’t be bumped?

 

  Yes    No

Are curtains, utensils, paper towels and other things that can burn well away from the stove?

 

   Yes    No

Is there a “kid-free” zone of one metre around the stove when adults are cooking?

 

 

Candle Safety

 

Heating Safety

 

 Yes   No

If space heaters are used in your home, are they at least one metre away from things that can burn, including curtains, furniture, pets?

 

 Yes   No

 

Does your fireplace have a sturdy screen to catch sparks?

 

  Yes   No

Has your chimney been inspected and cleaned during the past year?

 

  Yes   No

Has your furnace been serviced by a professional in the past year?

 

  Yes   No

Are propane tanks, gasoline, or other fuels stored safely outside your home?

 

 

 

Smoking, Matches and Lighters

  Yes   No

Are candles placed in sturdy holders, out of reach of children and pets so they can’t be knocked over?

   Yes   No

Do you cover lit candles with glass chimneys, to prevent people or objects from brushing against the flame?

   Yes   No

Do you always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed?

 

 

 

Electrical Safety

 

  Yes    No

Are electrical cords in good condition, without cracks or frayed areas?

  Yes    No

Are extension cords used safely? (Are they not under carpets or across doorways?)

  Yes   No

Are kitchen appliances¾ such as the kettle, coffee-maker, toaster oven and microwave, plugged into separate outlets?

 

 

Smoke Alarms

  Yes   No

Are matches and lighters stored out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet?

 

  Yes   No

If you smoke, do you have just one lighter or book of matches and keep it with you at all times?

 

  Yes   No

Do you encourage smokers in your household to smoke outside?

 

 

 

 

 

Home Fire Escape Planning

 

  Yes    No

Are all of the exits in your home clear of furniture, toys and clutter?

 

   Yes    No

Do you have a home fire escape plan that includes two ways out of every room (if possible)?

 

   Yes    No

Have a you picked a safe place outside where everyone will meet after exiting the home?

 

   Yes    No

Have you practiced a home fire drill with everyone in your household?

 

   

Yes    No

 

Does your home have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas?

 

 

 

    Yes    No

Are the batteries working in all your smoke alarms? (Test the battery by pushing the test button. If there is no button, press the centre of the cover.)

 

 

 

    Yes    No

Do you have a designated person to test the smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once per year?

 

 

 

 

What’s Your Score?

 

Add up the number of “yes” responses in your checklist. Give yourself one point for every “yes” response.

 

Our Score:  _________

 

If you answered “yes” to all of the 27 checklist questions above, congratulations! You are a fire safety expert!

 

If you answered “yes” to at least 20 questions, you’re well on your way to a fire safe home.

 

If you answered “yes” to between 15 and 20 questions, you’re on the right track but there is still some work to be done.

 

If you answered “yes” to fewer than 15 questions, there are some important changes that need to be made around your home to make sure everyone in your home is safe from fire.

 

 

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