You should have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your home, near exits and in a prominent place. Consider placing one in the garage, near wood burning stoves, by portable heating units and at the top of all staircases.
When to Use?
Only use a fire extinguisher if everyone has cleared the area and the fire is small. If you have any doubt about the extinguisher being able to handle the job, get your family out of the house and call the fire department. Never allow a fire to cut off your escape route. Your first priority is making sure that everyone gets out of the house safely, including yourself.
How to Use?
To use a fire extinguisher, pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the flames, squeeze the handle and use a rapid, sweeping motion vertically or horizontally from six to eight feet away from the fire. Be sure to cover the fire from the base of the flames to just above the top, or from side to side in front of the flames and to end just beyond the flames.
Fire Escape
Though you take great preventative measures, an accidental fire is still possible. A family meeting should be held to discuss exactly what to do in case of fire. The meeting should include a fire escape plan.
Draw a floor plan of your house. Indicate where doors, windows, hallways, stairways, bedrooms, ledges and roofs are. Mark all exits and alternate escape routes. Stress the importance of staying calm. Panic kills. It increases the chance of inhaling toxic gases and smoke and can cause you to make a choice that could injure or kill someone.
All rooms should have two escape routes. Keep windows in good working order so they can be unlocked easily. Never paint windows shut.
If there is no roof nearby, escape ladders are needed on upper levels. Chain and rope ladders are available through mail order catalogues and at hardware stores, security shops and building supply centers.
Stay Low
Smoke and poisonous gases rise with the hot air from flames. Instruct all household members to crawl along floors where smoke and fume concentrations are lowest. Hold a wet cloth or towel to your face and take short breaths.