11 Fire Safety Tips for All Ages

What is one fire safety tip that sticks out in your mind from your youth? We would bet it’s either “Stop, drop and roll,” or “Get low and go!” Important lessons like these are essential for children to learn from a young age, and imperative for adults to remember, too. We’ve got 11 more tips to help prevent fires or keep you safe in the event you are caught in one.

• Be mindful when cooking. Did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires and home fire injuries? Most of these are preventable by simply being more aware and focused when cooking and using kitchen materials. Don’t leave items on the stove or in the oven unattended. Keep your counters clear, and keep young children away from hot surfaces.
• Clear areas around candles. Never keep objects near a candle. Make sure there is free space of at least one foot in all directions around a lit candle.
• Take care with extension cords and outlets. Never overload outlets and cords with too many items plugged in. This is a major fire hazard. Be smart with the number of items you have plugged into each outlet or cord.
• Know your evacuation plan. Whether we’re talking about your home, school or office, be sure you know the fastest and safest way out of each place. Set up a meeting place with your family, and know where to go if at work or school.
• Take part in fire drills. Be sure you participate in fire drills at work and school. At home, schedule test runs a couple of times a year with challenges for your family to test their safety knowledge.
• Check smoke detectors regularly. These little devices are lifesaving. Check batteries at the change of each season and make sure you have them located outside of all bedrooms and on each level. At work or school, take note if there are plenty of detectors, as well. Speak up if you don’t feel that your building is equipped with enough.
• Focus on safety, not possessions. When there’s a fire emergency, you must stay focused on getting out. There is no time for gathering your favorite pictures or jewelry. Most items are replaceable; you are not.
• Touch doors before opening. If a door feels hot, it’s not a safe route for you to take to get out. Don’t open it. Instead, move on to your secondary exit plan.
• Stay low. If there is smoke in your home, get down low and crawl out. You’ll take in less smoke from the floor.
• Use stairs. In emergencies, do not rely on elevators. You may not be aware of where the fires are and exiting on foot via stairwells is the safest option.
• Call 911 if you are trapped. If you don’t see a way out, call 911 and give the dispatcher your exact location. Seal the bottom of your doorway with a towel (wet if possible) or clothing item to keep smoke from seeping in.

And of course, if you catch on fire, always remember that stop, drop and roll rule you learned in kindergarten to put that fire out in the fastest and safest manner.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue System is here for our community day and night to respond to emergencies and extinguish fires. And through our fire safety education program, we work to help community members prevent fires and know how to properly respond in the unfortunate event they are caught in one.

We are always looking for new volunteers and would love to have you join us in our efforts. Whether your strengths are administrative or you’re interested in becoming a firefighter, we have a place for you. Contact us today.

Are you looking for a change? Here in Prince William County, the volunteer departments provide fire and emergency medical services to the County’s citizens and visitors during weekday evenings, weekends and holidays. Prince William County’s volunteer fire and rescue departments are seeking motivated individuals who have the desire to make a difference and provide an important service to their community. Learn more now.