Remember to replace smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm batteries every six months. Keeping fresh batteries in your alarms keeps you and your family safe.
The following safety tips will help everyone to be safer in their homes:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom.
- Install CO alarms on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas but not in attics or basements unless they are sleeping areas.
- Have a professional inspect all fuel-burning home appliances, including furnaces and chimneys.
- Never leave cooking equipment unattended.
- Use caution with candles, lighters, matches, and smoking materials near upholstered furniture, mattresses, and bedding.
- Have a fire escape plan and practice it so all family members know what to do and where to meet if there’s a fire in the home.
- Never ignore an alarming CO alarm. Immediately move outside to fresh air and do not try to find the source of the CO. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911.
- Never use a portable generator indoors – including garages, basements, crawlspaces, and sheds. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.
- Keep portable generators outdoors and far away from open doors, windows and vents.
- Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide.