1. Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors warn you of a fire in time for you to escape.
Install them on each level of your home and outside of each
sleeping area. Test them every week, following the manufacturers
directions. Replace batteries once a year or whenever a detector
chirps to signal that its battery is low. Don't ever borrow
detector batteries for other uses. A disabled smoke detector
can't save your life! Fore more info, see the GFD smoke detector
web page.
2. Plan and Practice Escape
If fire breaks out in your home, you have to get out fast! With
your family, plan two ways out of
every room.
Fire escape routes must not include elevators, which might take
you right to the fire. Choose a meeting place outside where
everyone will gather. Once you are out , stay out! At least twice
a year, have the whole family practice the escape plan.
3. Space Heaters Need Space
Keep portable and space heaters at least three feet ( one meter)
from anything that can burn. Never leave heaters on when you
leave home or go to bed and keep children and pets well away from
them.
4. Smokers Need Watchers
carelessly discarded cigarettes are the leading cause of fire
deaths in the United States. Never smoke in bed or when you are
drowsy! Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers and put water on
butts before discarding them. before going to bed, check under
and around sofa cushions for smoldering cigarettes.
5. Be Careful Cooking
Never leave cooking unattended. Keep cooking areas clear of
combustibles and wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you
cook. Keep the handles of your pots turned inward so the pots
can't be knocked or pulled over. If grease catches fire,
carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames, then
turn off the burner. Never put foil or other metals in a
microwave oven.
6. Matches and Lighters Are Tools
In the hands of a child, matches and lighters are deadly. Store
them up high where kids can't reach them, preferably in a locked
cabinet. And teach your children from the start that matches and
lighters are tools for adults, not toys for kids. If children
find matches or lighters, they should tell a grown-up
immediately.
7. Use Electricity Safely
If an appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it
immediately and have it repaired. Replace any electrical cord
that is cracked or fayed. Don't overload extension cords or run
them under rugs. Don't tamper with the fuse box or use fuse of an
improper size.
8. Cool a Burn
If someone gets burned, immediately place the wound in cool water
for 10 to 15 minutes. If the burn blisters or chars, see a 
doctor immediately.
9. Stop, Drop, and Roll
Everyone should know this rule: If your clothes catch fire, don't
run! Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with
your hands to protect your face and lungs, and roll over and over
to smother the flames. 
10. Crawl Low Under Smoke
Smoke is dangerous! If you encounter smoke, use an alternate
escape route. If you must exit through smoke, the cleanest air
will be several inches off the floor. Crawl on your hands and
knees to the nearest safe exit.
All information courtesy of the National Fire Protection Agency 
