Home Safety Reminders - Warm Up to Safety this Winter!

Use this sheet to introduce your kids to the importance of smoke alarms and the safe use of portable space heaters.

• Smoke alarms save lives, reducing the risk of dying in a home fire by half.
• Purchase smoke alarms from reputable retailers that you trust. Choose alarms that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Interconnected alarms offer the best protection.
• Check your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the TEST button on the alarm. Replace batteries at least once a year.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced at least every 10 years.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, the whole family should follow your escape plan and go to your outside meeting place.

• Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires, particularly during the winter months. Understanding how to use portable space heaters safely is very important.
• Never leave a space heater running when you exit the room or go to sleep.
• Do not use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn— furniture, bedding, clothes, curtains, and papers.
• Put the space heater in a place where people will not run into it or trip over it.
• Heaters should be placed on a flat, level surface. Do not place a space heater on furniture.
• Do not use a space heater in damp or wet areas—like the bathroom.
• Do not use your space heater with a power strip or extension cord.
• Unplug the space heater when not in use. Inspect the cord regularly for damage.