Whether you’re talking to the media, a community group, or residents, these talking
points will help you stay on message with your remarks. Use these safety messages as
they are, or as a starting point for a larger discussion.
Cooking
- Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
Thanksgiving is the leading day for fires involving cooking equipment.
- The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
- If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in
the home.
- Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the
lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it’s cool.
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
- Loose clothing can hang down onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short,
close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove and areas
where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Smoke Alarms
- Smoke alarms detect and alert people to a fire in the early stages. Smoke
alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire.
- Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate
sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
- Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm
and knows how to respond.
Home Fire Escape Planning and Practice
Home fire escape planning should include the following:
- Drawing a map of each level of the home, showing all doors and
windows
- Going to each room and pointing to the two ways out
- Making sure someone will help children, older adults, and people
with disabilities wake up and get out
- Teaching children how to escape on their own in case you cannot
help them
- Establishing a meeting place outside and away from the home
where everyone can meet after exiting
- Having properly installed and maintained smoke alarms
- Pushing the smoke alarm button to start the drill
- Practicing what to do in case there is smoke: Get low and go. Get out
fast.
- Practicing using different ways out and closing doors behind you as
you leave
- Never going back for people, pets, or things
- Going to your outdoor meeting place
- Calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone
Heating
- Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the
winter months.
- Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home
heating equipment fires.
- All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1
meter) away from heating equipment.
- Have a 3-foot (1-metre) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Purchase and use only portable space heaters listed by a qualified
testing laboratory.
- Have a qualified professional install heating equipment.
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year.