Fire Safety tips for the summer season

May 13, 2024 – Defence Stories

With the arrival of the summer season, the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal offers a few fire safety tips.

Working Smoke Alarms:

• Smoke alarms warn you of a fire in time to let you escape.
• Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, especially near each sleeping area.
• Test smoke alarms every six months and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Replace weak or dead batteries immediately with new ones. Batteries should also be replaced every year.
• Remember, if your smoke alarms are hardwired, they will not function during a power failure. Consider installing a backup battery powered smoke alarm as an additional asset to your home.

Plan and practice your escape:

• Prepare and practice a fire escape plan with every member of your household.
• Always have two ways out of your dwelling.
• Arrange an outside meeting place and a safe location to call 9-1-1.
• If you live in a multi-storey building, in the event of fire, don't use elevators. Familiarize yourself with the building fire safety plan/ evacuation orders.

Space heaters need space:

• Keep portable and space heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) from anything that can burn.
• Never leave heaters on unattended, including when you leave the house or go to bed.
• Keep children well away from heaters.

Smoking is hazardous:

• Set up a designated smoking area outside with large, deep ashtrays, and soak the butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside to reduce the risk of indoor fires and protect people from being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke.
• Smokers need watchers. Before going to sleep, check under and around sofa cushions and upholstered furniture for smouldering cigarettes.

Be careful when cooking:

• Be alert when you cook and keep children out of the way.
• Don't wear loose fitting clothing and be careful not to reach over hot burners.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If a pot catches fire, cover it with a lid to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
• Keep pot handles turned inward.

Matches and lighters are for adults:

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
• Teach children that matches and lighters are only for adults.

Use electricity safely:

• If an appliance smokes or smells like it is burning, unplug it immediately and have it repaired.
• Check all your electrical cords and replace any that are cracked or frayed.
• Don't overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under rugs or carpets.
• Don't tamper with the fuse boxes or use fuses of improper size.

Cool a burn:

• If someone gets burned, immediately run cool water over the wound for 5 to 10 minutes to ease the pain.
• If the burn is blistered or charred, see a doctor immediately.

Stop, drop, and roll:

• If your clothes catch fire, don't run.
• Stop where you are,
• Drop gently to the ground,
• Cover your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs,
• Roll over and over until to the flames are smothered.

Crawl low under smoke:

• If you get caught in smoke, the cleanest air will be near the floor.
• Get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest safe exit.

Power failures:

• When power fails don't use open flames or a charcoal grill indoors.
• Don't use gas-fuelled appliances as alternative heating sources indoors.
• If you plan to use a portable generator, don't connect household items to the generator or hook the generator up to your home's electrical system unless it is done by a licensed electrician.
• Be sure the generator is kept outside where exhaust doesn't enter buildings.

For further details, please contact the office of the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal.