Here are the last three areas of your home that you need to be aware of. Make sure you take the time to check all of the items that I have mentioned.

Bedroom

• Keeping bedrooms fire safe is a smart way to get a better night’s sleep.

• Replace electric blankets more than 10 years old or with damaged cords, wires or temperature control.

• If you find warm electrical outlets or switches, shut off the circuit and call a professional electrician.

• Install a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm on ceilings or high on walls on every level of the house, and in every room used for sleeping.

• Anyone dependent on a walker or wheelchair should sleep on the ground floor.

• Don’t smoke or use an open flame near medical oxygen.

• If your child invites friends to spend the night, it’s important to review fire safety procedures and share this information with the parents.

• Only use extension cords approved by Underwriters Laboratories.

• Never use candles in bedrooms.

• Keep all lamps free of flammable materials.

• Don’t run electrical cords under rugs.

• Replace and repair loose or frayed electrical cords.

• Don’t allow permanent use of extension cords.

• Don’t staple or nail electrical cords.

• Never smoke in bed.

• Never leave heavy objects on the bed when an electric blanket is in use.

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm near bedrooms.

Outdoors

• Keep fire out of your life by keeping the outside of your home fire safe.

• Place portable fire pits on stable, fireproof surfaces such as concrete and away from combustibles.

• Keep your grill away from walls and out from under leaves and overhanging branches.

• Keep your grill at least three feet away from your home.

• If you live in a place where it snows, remember to keep all exhaust vents from your home clear and shovel out hydrants near your home.

• Develop and practice a home evacuation plan.

• Make sure every family member knows two ways out of each room in your home.

• Practice escaping, staying low to the ground and not opening doors that are hot to the touch.

• Assign a family member to assist anyone with a mobility issue.

• Choose a place outside your home for all family members to meet. Get out of the home first and then call the fire department from a neighbor’s phone. Make sure everyone knows not to return inside the home.

Hallways

• Long or short, fire safe hallways keep your family moving while stopping fire danger.

• Don’t use extension cords

that are frayed or wrapped in a

coil, and don’t run cords under

rugs.

• Install ceiling-mounted smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are at least four inches away from the walls on every level of your home.

• Ensure smoke alarms are UL listed.

• Test your smoke alarms once a month.

• Wall-mounted smoke alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.

• Don’t install smoke alarms near windows, doors or ducts.

• Vacuum your smoke alarms every six months.

• Change your smoke alarm batteries at twice per year. Make sure batteries are always in smoke alarms.

Michael Heath is president of the St. John Professional Firefighters Association.