Fire Safety Checklist

Whether at home or at work, you and your family should have a fire safety checklist so you can be prepared in case of an emergency. A fire safety checklist can easily be done on your own to make sure that you know the fastest exits and location of any fire safety equipment in an emergency. It will also help you to make sure your fire safety equipment and any fire alarms are in good working order.

Fire Extinguisher

• You should have a fire extinguisher located in fire-prone areas such as the kitchen or a utility room. Make sure that the fire extinguisher is easily reachable and can be located by all members of your family. At work, your employer should have a fire extinguisher or fire hose in your building. Make note of its location and notify your employer if it appears to be outdated or malfunctioning. The local fire department will test and maintain any equipment at your workplace.

Evacuation Plan

• Have an emergency evacuation plan. Make a diagram of your home and highlight the exits from each section of the house. Go over this plan with your family and set up a designated meeting place outside of the home in case of fire. At work, your employer should already have an emergency evacuation plan. Go over this plan so that you are aware of the nearest exit from your work area and participate in any emergency evacuation drills your employer may conduct.

Alarm System

• Even if your home is not outfitted with a full alarm system that notifies local law enforcement and emergency services, you can still have fire alarms strategically placed throughout your home. These are battery- operated and should be located in fire-prone areas such as the kitchen, near bathrooms and bedrooms, and the utility room. Battery-operated fire alarms are sensitive to smoke. Alarms should be loud enough for you and your family to hear in every part of the house. Change the battery in the alarms every six months to ensure that they are in good working order.