Fire Prevention Week is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and serves to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 while also educating the public on fire safety.

Year after year, fire departments, community groups and schools come together to share important fire safety tips with families and children nationwide. The three main safety tips include creating escape plans in the home, testing smoke alarms and promoting safe practices for lithium-ion battery use.

To prevent fire emergencies and help raise awareness on fire safety in our 98th Assembly District, my team and I have compiled the following easy-to-follow, life-saving tips based on the NFPA website’s information. Fire moves fast — plan ahead and stay safe!

Home Fire Escape Plan

• Draw a floor plan or map of your home — ensure the map clearly shows where every door and window are located.
• Mark two ways out of each and every room in the home.
• Clearly mark all smoke alarms with an “SA” on the map — smoke alarms should be present in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
• Pick a family meeting place outside where everyone can meet in the event of a fire emergency.
• Be sure to practice your plan at least twice a year so everyone in the household is well-prepared in the event of an emergency.
• To download the NFPA’s Home Fire Escape Plan, click here. 

Smoke Alarms in the Home

• Smoke alarms should be present in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home — large homes may need extra alarms.
• Ensure each smoke alarm is working properly — replace batteries consistently, test all smoke alarms at least once a month and replace all alarms when they are 10 years old.
• Use interconnected smoke alarms in the home — when one sounds, all of them sound. 
• Smoke alarms should be high off the ground — install alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall and keep them at least 10 feet away from the stove to reduce false alarms.
• Install special alarms if you or someone in your household are hard-of-hearing or deaf—special alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.
• To download the NFPA’s Smoke Alarms Safety Tips, click here. 

Safe Practices for Lithium-Ion Battery Use

• When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, ensure it is safety certified.
• Charge devices safely — always use cords that come with the product to charge it, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, buy new chargers that are manufacturer-approved, charge devices on a hard surface, do not overcharge devices and be sure to unplug all devices or remove their batteries when fully charged.
• Recycle batteries responsibly—do not throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins. Visit call2recycle.org  to find a battery recycling location near you.

During Fire Prevention Week, our focus turns to the safety of our loved ones. This week, take the proper precautions to ensure a fire will not uproot the lives of any families in our community.