National Fire Prevention week is being observed during the week of October 9 through October 15. This fire safety awareness program began in 1911 on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago fire of 1871.

Simple safety tips can prevent accidental fires in the home, which is a leading cause of accidental injury and death in U.S. households.

Checking smoke dector batteries to make sure they are in working order is one of the basic steps in fire safety. As you are picking up Halloween candy at the store, which you will most likely consume prior to Octobe31, pick up some extra 9 volt batteries for your smoke detectors.

There are many other relatively simple tips to prevent accidental fires:

• Never leave food unattended on a stove.
• Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
• Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
• Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
• Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as, drapery).
• Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
• Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
• Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons, which allow persons to stop false alarms quickly. If long-life alarms are not available, use regular alarms, and replace the batteries annually.
• Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
• Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.

Reproduced from NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2011 NFPA