Safety at Home
Did you know, less than 20% of households have created and practiced an escape route in the event of a fire? Children and the elderly can easily become confused or disoriented in the dark or in smoky conditions. The Fort St John Fire Department offers training and education in home escape planning.
Safety at home tips
- Check your smoke alarm batteries regularly
- Maintain and know where your fire extinguishers are
- Never leave candles unattended
- Never leave portable heaters unattended
- Practice safety in the kitchen while cooking such as not leaving dishtowels on your stovetop
Fire Extinguishers
The Fort St John Fire Department provides hands-on training to non-profit organizations on the use and application of fire extinguishers
- Fire extinguishers can put out small fires or help control fires while crews are on the way to the scene
- All extinguishers should be inspected annually to ensure they are in proper working order
- Always make sure you and your family or coworkers know where the fire extinguishers are kept in the event of an emergency
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Smoke and Carbon monoxide alarms can save lives. With proper maintenance and placement, these alarms can prevent death or injury by alerting residents of fires or spikes in carbon monoxide.
The Fort St John Fire Department recommends that every home follow these tips:
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom and outside of sleeping areas on every floor
- Seek out alarms that are interconnected – when one sounds, they all sound to alert the whole home
- Test your alarms at least once a month
- Smoke alarms should be mounted on the ceiling or high on a wall
- Smoke alarms should be kept at least 3 meters away from the stove to reduce false alarms
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every ten years