Fire Safety Awareness Month is a reminder to us all of everything we need to do around our homes to help prevent a tragedy from happening. Here are some reminders:

• Test your smoke detectors monthly, replace if they are expired, swap out batteries every spring and fall, ensure you have one on every floor and in every bedroom.
• Don’t leave cooking or burning candles unattended.
• Keep flammables away from heat, such as cooking oil.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and ensure that members of your household know how to use it.
• Empty your dryer lint trap after every use and clean your dryer vent annually.
• Avoid plugging more than one appliance into each outlet (and make sure it’s grounded).
• Don’t plug extension cords or power bars together; instead, plug them directly into a grounded outlet.
• Have heating systems, including chimneys, serviced and cleaned annually.
• Keep lighters and matches away from children.
• Keep potting soil moist, which can be highly flammable, especially when dry. Store it in a cool, dry place away from heat sources.
• Replace damaged electrical cords.

Even with all the preventative measures in place, tragedies can still happen, so it’s also important to have a fire escape plan in place and review it with members of your household twice a year. Keeping an escape ladder handy can also be a lifesaver if other exits are blocked by smoke or fire.