Rainbow Health Education

BP Home
Meet Our Staff
Office Information
Map To Office
Insurance
Rainbow News
Health Education
Medical Links

E-Mail Us

Emergency Phone
 803-259-7337

 Fire Prevention Tips:

What is fire prevention?

Fire prevention is preparing your family in the event of a fire in your home.

The best way to fight a fire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, some fires cannot be prevented, so it is best for your family to have a plan of action that everybody knows and has practiced.

How can I eliminate fire hazards from my home?

Check all electrical systems, appliances, the heating system, portable heaters, and stoves. Make the needed repairs without delay. Discard frayed or worn electrical cords.

Remove unneeded flammable materials like newspapers, trash, and clutter from your home.

Do not dump ashes in the wastebasket.

Have your chimney and flue cleaned thoroughly before each heating season to decrease the chance of fire.

Keep flammable products away from all heat sources.

Store all oily rags in tightly covered containers.

Don't smoke where there is a risk of setting fire to combustible materials. NEVER smoke in bed.

Respect local ordinances regulating trash burning. The fire must be attended at all times. Keep adequate fire equipment nearby.

Make sure holiday greens are watered and kept fresh. Keep Christmas trees away from heaters, fireplaces, curtains, and other objects. Turn off tree lights before going to bed each evening.

Make sure space heaters, wood stoves, and any ancillary heating devices are installed, vented and are out of reach of toddlers.

Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Consider installing carbon monoxide detectors in your house.

Inspect your yard for fire hazards.

  • Do not allow forest vegetation to grow too close to your home.
  • Remove tree limbs which hang over your home.
  • Store firewood and other combustible material away from your home.

    • Do not store propane gasoline or other petroleum products in your basement or garage.

    Do not let leaves and trash accumulate under your home.

    How can I teach my family fire prevention?

    Equip your house and garage with fire extinguishers. Show everybody in the family how to use them in case of an emergency.

    Put smoke detectors on every floor of your home, especially in bedrooms.

  • Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors at least twice a year. To remind yourself, replace the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
  • Keep smoke detectors clean from dust and dirt.
  • Test your smoke detectors monthly to make sure they are working by holding a candle close to them.
  • Teach your child to recognize the loud beeping noise that a smoke detector makes when there is a fire.
  • If your smoke detector is more than ten years old, replace it with a new one.

    • Design a fire escape plan for your home and property.

  • Draw floor maps of your house, labeling the maps with two escape routes for each room. Locate windows, doors, and stairways. Show your child the maps and make sure he knows how to safely escape the house in the event of a fire.
  • Hold fire drills to practice the procedure.
  • Designate a meeting place outside. If you can, plan to meet in the front of your house where the fire department will arrive.
  • Keep all exit routes clear of toys and furniture. Nothing should be in the way to hinder escape.
  • Consider installing rope ladders on the second floor. Decide which rooftops can be used as escape routes.
  • Test windows to make sure they can be easily unlocked and opened by your child. Make sure everybody can fit through the windows.
  • Make it clear that nobody should go back in the house until the fire department says it is safe to do so.
  • Design a similar escape plan for other buildings on your property like barns.

    • What should I do if my house is on fire?

    Drop to the floor and crawl to the nearest emergency exit. Temperatures above the two-foot level could instantly burn you.

    Don't waste time getting dressed or collecting valuables. You may have only two minutes before becoming affected by smoke inhalation.

    Test doors before opening. Put the back of your hand against the door. If it is hot, or if smoke is coming through the cracks, don't open it. If it seems cool to touch, cautiously brace your shoulder against it and keep you head to one side to avoid breathing sudden smoke. Be ready to slam the door shut if you see smoke or feel heat.

    Call the fire department immediately from a neighbor's house.

    Go directly to your prearranged meeting place so that missing persons can be determined immediately.

    NEVER re-enter a building that is on fire.