Fires happen every day, and the toll they take on our lives is boundless. Electrical failure or malfunction is a leading cause of home fires year after year. It is incredibly important to arm yourself and your loved ones with tools to fight them, of which knowledge is among the most critical. Below you will find a collection of new and updated safety materials from ESFI to help you both prepare to be fire safe and establish good electrical safety habits.

Fact Sheets, Checklists and Tip Sheets

Fire Safety:

  • Fire Safety Planning Checklist – Plan ahead and be prepared before a fire emergency happens. Use this simple guidance to help create your family’s fire safety plan.
  • Fire Safety Planning for Parents – Keep the needs of children in mind when you create and practice your family fire safety plan.
  • Fire Safety For Older Adults – Adults over age 65 are more than twice as likely to die in a home fire as the average person. Additional planning is needed to make sure that older adults are adequately prepared to escape in the event of a fire emergency.
  • Fire Safety Planning For People With Special Needs – People with special needs may require assistance and/or special alerting devices to help them make a safe fire escape.
  • Fire Safety Planning For Guests And Babysitters – Follow these simple tips for preparing house guests and babysitters for a fire emergency before it happens.
  • Fire Safety For Pet Owners – Nearly 1,000 home fires every year are accidently started by pets. Taking steps to keep your pet safe from fires is part of being a responsible pet owner.
  • Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips – Fire extinguishers can save lives and property, but they should only be used by adults who have been trained on how and when to properly use them.
  • Escape Ladder Safety Tips – Escape ladders can provide a means of escape from a second or third story room, but should not be considered the primary escape route.
  • Space Heater Safety Tips – Follow these simple precautions to keep your home safe while using portable electric space heaters.
  • Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet – This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is often called the “silent killer” because it is virtually undetectable without the use of detection technology like a CO alarm.
  • Carbon Monoxide Alarm Safety Tips – Proper installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms is critical to your safety.
  • Kitchen Safety Tips – The kitchen may be the “heart” of the home, but it’s also where many home fires start. Identify and correct potential hazards in your kitchen.
  • Winter Season Safety Tips – The arrival of colder winter weather increases the likelihood of heating-related fires, fatalities and injuries. These simple reminders will help you and your loved ones stay safe all winter long.

Electrical Safety

Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Brochures and Workbooks

  • Electrical Safety Workbook – This guide helps homeowners understand and properly maintain their home electrical system.
  • Know The Dangers In Your Older Home – Booklet provides facts, statistics, and tools to educate people everywhere about the electrical dangers commonly found in older homes.
  • Arc Faults and Electrical Safety – Brochure introduces arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and explains how they work, when they should be used, and how to install and test them safely.
  • Use Extension Cords Safely – If used improperly, extension cords can cause fire and injury – even death. This brochure provides tips for using extension cords safely.

Safety Videos and Demonstrations

  • AFCI Virtual Demonstration (1:44) – Arc fault circuit interrupters, or AFCIs, can prevent many of the nearly 30,000 arcing fires that occur in the United States each year. Find out how these advanced circuit breakers provide enhanced electrical fire protection.
  • *ESFI Extension Safety Cord Virtual Demonstration (2:15) – Prevent potentially dangerous extension cord mistakes by following a few simple guidelines.
  • *ESFI Smoke Alarm Virtual Demonstration (1:59) – On average, 8 people die in a home fire each day in the United States, for a total of nearly 3,000 fatalities every year. Follow these simple steps to make sure your home and family are adequately protected by working, properly installed smoke alarms.
  • GFCI Virtual Demonstration (1:36) – Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, have saved thousands of lives over the last three decades. Found mostly in areas where electrical products might come in contact with water, a GFCI is a special type of electrical outlet designed to cut off power before an electrical shock can occur.
  • What is a GFCI Outlet? (3:29) – A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is a type of electrical outlet that provides an additional layer of protection against shock and electrocution. Learn more about GFCIs and how they can help protect you from electrical hazards in your home.
  • *Home Electrical Safety Video (3:00) –Understanding the basics of your home’s electrical system can help you identify and avoid potential hazards.
  • *Space Heater Safety Virtual Demonstration (2:08) – Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat for your home in cold weather, but they can also increase the risks of fire or electric shock if not used properly. Keep your home safe and warm this winter with some helpful tips from ESFI.
  • Tamper Resistant Receptacle (TRR) Virtual Demonstration (0:54) – Each year, nearly 2,400 children are treated in hospitals for shocks and burns from electrical outlets. Fortunately, childproofing your home is now easier thanks to tamper resistant receptacles, or TRRs.

Interactive Resources

  • *Virtual Fire Drill – This video game-style simulation allows you to put your fire safety knowledge to the test by “escaping” from a virtual fire. After successfully navigating the simulation, information is provided to guide you through the process of developing an effective family fire safety plan.
  • Virtual Home – Visit ESFI’s Virtual Home to learn more about your home’s electrical system and the devices you use in it every day.
  • *Kids’ Corner – The Kids’ Corner’s entertaining cartoon videos and interactive games deliver critical electrical and fire safety messages to children in a fun, engaging environment.

Safety Resources for Children

  • Investigate With P.I. Plug: It’s Electric! – This dynamic safety awareness program was developed to teach children in grades 3-5 about electrical and fire safety. The classroom toolkit, developed in accordance with National Science Education standards, includes a teaching poster, student worksheets, and a family take-home sheet.
  • *P.I. Plug’s Home Safety Video (3:31) – Join ESFI’s cartoon mascot, Private I. Plug, as he learns about electrical and fire dangers in this fun, animated video.
  • *P.I. Plug’s Smoke Alarm Safety Video (5:32) – Watch Private I. Plug as he celebrates his smoke alarm’s birthday and learns about fire escape plans.

Resources noted with an asterisk mark (*) are also available in Spanish. Spanish videos are located together with the English videos in the Safety Videos section of the Resource Library. The Spanish versions of the Virtual Fire Drill and Kids’ Corner can be accessed using the links below:

Virtual Fire Drill – Spanish Language Version

Kids’ Corner – Spanish Language Version