Grim Statistics:

• There were 1,584,500 fires in the United States in 2003
• Fires resulted in 3,925 deaths, 18,125 injuries, and $12.3 billion in damages
• Residential fire represented 25.4 percent of all fires and 77.4 percent of structural fires
• Eighty percent of civilian fire fatalities occurred in the home

These statistics show that family fire safety is a serious concern across the United States. Take your family fire safety seriously and come up with a plan for the event of an emergency.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #1: Install Smoke Alarms

A smoke alarm detects even the slightest puff of dangerous smoke and sets off a siren that alerts your family to the danger, giving everyone a chance to escape. Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, the hallway, and the kitchen.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #2: Try Vocal Smoke Alarms

For families with young children or elderly adults, a vocal smoke alarm is an effective alternative to a regular smoke alarm. A vocal smoke alarm uses a recording of your own voice instead of a siren, as studies show children wake up more easily to the sound of their parents' voices. You can even record family fire safety instructions, such as "Maddie, wake up. There's a fire. Climb out your window and meet us at the mailbox."

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #3: Buy a Fire Safe

A fire safe can withstand temperatures of up to 1700°. Keep vital documents, such a birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, and insurance policies in a fire safe to make recovery easier when the smoke clears.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #4: Buy a Fire Extinguisher

If a small fire breaks out, an easily accessible fire extinguisher can keep it from growing into a large engulfing blaze. Always keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, the hall closet, and near BBQ pits and grills.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #5: Feel the Door

Instruct your family to feel doors and door knobs before opening them. If the door is hot, there are flames on the other side, and they need to find another exit.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #6: Lay Low

When escaping a house that is on fire, teach your family to stay low to the ground under the smoke to avoid inhaling the deadly fumes.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #7: Stop, Drop and Roll

Instruct your family that if their clothes catch on fire, they should stop, drop, and roll to extinguish the flames.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #8: Assign Helpers

If you have small children, elderly parents, or pets, assign a family member to be in charge of aiding those who need help escaping.

Family Fire Safety Plan Step #9: Have a Meeting Place

Make sure everyone in your family knows to gather in one place once they have gotten out of the house, so you can easily count heads and know that everyone made it out safely.

Review your family fire safety plan every year and always make sure you have fresh batteries in your smoke alarm. Family fire safety saves thousands of lives each year, and it can save yours, too.