Become a hero, learn home fire safety

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an average of about 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year, and 100,000 are injured. Many lose their lives fighting residential fires.

To help Americans save themselves and their firefighters, the USFA launched its "Tribute to Heroes" campaign to encourage people to practice fire safety in their homes.

People can ensure their own safety and prevent firefighters from having to perform dangerous rescues by maintaining smoke alarms, having a fire escape plan and eliminating household fire hazards.

Here are fire safety tips from the USFA’s "Tribute to Heroes" campaign:

Smoke Alarms

• 60 percent of all residential fire fatalities occur in homes without an operable smoke alarm. Have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home and outside bedrooms.

•Test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries at least once a year. Many people have smoke alarms and mistakenly believe they are working.

•Consider buying lithium-battery-powered smoke alarms, which may last up to ten years with no battery change.

•Install smoke alarms away from air vents.

•Install smoke alarms on the ceiling or wall, at least four inches from corners.

•Never disable or remove smoke alarm batteries.

Escape Planning

•Develop a fire escape plan with your household and practice regularly.

•Know two ways to exit from every room in your home.

•Make sure safety bars on windows can be opened from inside your home.

•Crawl low, under smoke.

•Feel closed doors. If hot, use another exit.

•Identify a place to meet household members outside. Never re-enter a burning building.

•Escape first and then call for emergency assistance.

Fire Safety Walk-Through

•Keep clothes, blankets, curtains and other combustibles at least three feet from space heaters.

•Place space heaters where they will not tip over easily.

•Clean hearths and chimneys yearly.

•Keep a screen in front of the fire in your fireplace.

•Keep clothes, towels and other combustibles away from stove burners.

•Never leave pots cooking on the stove unattended.

•Be sure your stove is off before going to bed.

•Check for frayed wires and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.

•Never overload electrical sockets.

•Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.

•Never leave burning cigarettes unattended.

•Never smoke in bed.

The U.S. Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the federal leader in public fire education and awareness, fire service training, fire-related technology and data collection. For further information on the "Tribute" campaign or other fire safety topics, you can visit the Internet Website at www.usfa.fema.gov.

To help protect your family, make sure your smoke alarm is working properly.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.