We know how important it is to protect your family and home from fire and fire related injuries. That’s why Earthwise, the leading provider of flame retardants, and Fire Safety for All have put together a checklist to help you get started.  Although it’s called the “New Homeowner Fire Safety Checklist”, these tips are a good resource for any family no matter how long they lived in their home.  It’s always good to brush up on fire safety preparedness.

1. Have you created a fire evacuation plan? This plan shows family members how to safely escape any room in the home if a fire occurs.  It should also include a safe meeting meeting place for the family to gather outside. For tips on creating this plan, visit our post on fire evacuation plans.

2. Have  you practiced the fire evacuation plan with your family?

3. Do all bedrooms have easy escape routes via windows with adequate openings?

4. Does every family member know how to unlock all windows in the house in the case of a fire?

5. Do you have smoke detectors installed in strategic locations like hallways, the kitchen and the basement?

6. Have you checked the batteries in every smoke detector in the house?

7. Have you installed carbon monoxide alarms in the house?

8. Have your fireplace and chimney been cleaned and inspected recently?

9. Do you know what to do in the event of a grease fire?

10. Do you have baking soda and a fire extinguisher available in the kitchen?

11. Do you have the phone number of the nearest fire department recorded near all landline phones and in your cell phone?

12. Does your homeowner’s insurance policy include fire coverage?

To print the checklist, visit Earthwise Homeowner Fire Safety Checklist.

Fire Safety For All is dedicated to providing safety tips like these to help prevent fires and fire-related deaths and injuries.  If you have a fire safety tip you’d like to share, please email editor@firesafetyforall.com.