Home fires claimed the lives of more than 2,500 people and injured more than 13,000 citizen in 2009.  In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that someone died in a fire every 175 minutes, and someone was injured every 31 minutes. Those at greatest risk are children four and younger and adults 65 and older. Would you know what to do if a fire started in your home?

Everyone should have an emergency preparedness plan. Take the time now to review fire safety tips so that your family is prepared before they face an emergency incident. Start with the basics:

• Establish a safe meeting place.
• Create a home escape plan.
• Practice your home escape plan.
• Have working smoke and CO alarms in your home.
• Establish a three-foot safety clearance around all hot surfaces or open flames.

Home safety includes both fire prevention and injury prevention. Additional safety information for your home on these topics includes:

• Grilling and BBQs 
• Chimineas/Fire Pits 
• Smoke and CO Alarms 
• Burn Prevention 
• Candle Safety 
• Electrical Safety 
• Fire Extinguishers 
• Kitchen and Cooking Safety 
• Hidden Home Hazards 
• Drowning Prevention 
• Medicine and Poisoning 
• Window Safety 
• Fall Prevention