Please join us in observing Fire Safety month by taking a few simple, lifesaving steps to protect your family from a potentially fatal fire.

Fire Safety week is October 3-10 this year...be sure to make a plan before it's too late!

Every year, your American Red Cross responds to hundreds of fires. In fact, fires take the lead in Disaster Response for the Ozarks area. Can you believe we responded to nearly 300 fires between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004? What�s more is the hottest time for a fire to occur is yet to come.

You can make your home fire safe by taking a few precautions:

o Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm or outside each sleeping area and each level of your home.
o If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
o Test your smoke alarm once a month.
o Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year.
o Consider having one or more fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
o Plan two escape routes from every room in your home.
o Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas in homes with multiple levels, and store them near the window.
o Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
o Practice your escape route at lease twice a year.
o Once you�re out�stay out! Call the fire department immediately from a neighbor�s home.
o Get low and go�crawl low under the smoke to get to your exit.
o If you must go through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm�use your second escape route.
o If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright colored cloth and the window. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.

Also - remember that candles can cause fires. Never leave a candle unattended.

Contact your American Red Cross for more lifesaving information or to schedule a Red Cross representative to come talk with your class or organization about how we can save lives together!