1. One of the most important tools to help you stay safe from fire is a working smoke alarm. It can help save your life and the lives of your loved ones. According to the Home Safety Council, more than 95% of the households in a 2004 phone survey had at least one smoke alarm. Approximately half of all home fire-related deaths occurred in the roughly 5% of homes without smoke alarms. However, in homes with smoke alarms in which home fires were reported, 65% of those homes had smoke alarms that did not work. Common reasons for non-working smoke alarms were missing, dead, or disconnected batteries.

2. When a fire occurs, the air is cleaner and cooler 12-24 inches from the floor. Children should realize the importance of crawling on their hands and knees, not on their bellies.

3. Be sure to have a designated meeting place and be sure everyone in your household knows and understands where the meeting place is. A tree, fence, mailbox, or even the neighbor's house may make good meeting places.

4. Sit down with your family and make an escape map. Know two ways out of every room. Practice your home fire drill using your escape map two times a year.

5. Many times children tend to hide from firefighters during an actual fire-related situation. Children need to know that firefighters are helpers and are their friends and are there to help them.