Helena Fire Department would like to go over a few home safety tips in this newsletter. We all know in school that our kids have fire drills to practice and how to get out of a school if there is a fire or an emergency situation. Here are some tips to use at home to make your house a even safer place in case of a fire.

1. Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with every one in your household.
2. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
3. Practice the plan night and day with everyone in your home twice a year.
4. Have a meeting place that every one knows in your home, that is a safe distance from the house.
5. Teach the children to escape on there own in case you can't help them.
6. Practice using different ways out.
7. Get low and go under smoke to get out safely if you have to escape through smoke.
8. Feel the knob and door before opening a door. If they are hot, use your second way out.
9. Make sure you have smoke detectors in every bedroom and in the hallway outside of the bedrooms.
10. Test your smoke detector monthly to make sure it is operating properly.