They’re mostly common sense, but the recommendations recently issued by theAmerican Academy of Pediatricsfor how to reduce your risk of a fire at home bear repeating:
  • Never leave a small child unattended, even for a minute.
  • Install smoke alarms near the furnace, and near areas where people sleep. Check the batteries monthly.
  • Keep fire extinguishers around the home. Make sure they're always charged.
  • Devise different escape routes, and practice fire drills.
  • Never smoke in bed.
  • Make sure children don't have access to lighters or matches.
  • Carefully dispose of ashes, matches and cigarette butts.
  • Make sure all open flames are protected with a barrier.
  • Inspect electrical appliances and cords for signs of wear or connection problems.
  • Don't wear loose clothing when you are near a fireplace, space heater or stove.

Click here for more information on fire safety from MedLine Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).