LIVEWELL MINUTE: Fire Prevention

A smoke alarm and escape plan can be the difference between life and death for you and your family during a house fire.

Kathy Leggett, Advocacy and Outreach Blank Children s Hospital says, ”Over half of all home fire deaths occurred in homes without a smoke alarm. Installing a smoke alarm can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by almost 50 percent.”

Protect yourself and your family by:

• Installing smoke alarms on every floor of your home. Be sure to have an alarm near every sleeping area.
• Testing your smoke alarms monthly.
• Replacing the batteries every six months or as soon as the alarm beeps to indicate a low battery.
• NEVER disabling your smoke alarm.

Leggett says, “By practicing fire drills at home - you have an opportunity to review your escape plan with your family and make sure everyone knows how to get out safely.”