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CO Home Safety Tips
CO poisoning is often caused by equipment fail-
ures due to poor maintenance, product defects,
and damaged parts. The following is a list of
safety tips to help prevent CO within your home:
1. Have all fuel-burning appliances inspected
and cleaned yearly by a qualified service
technician. The furnace, water heater, and
stove are some of the leading sources of CO.
2. Clean fireplace vents and chimney regularly. A
blocked chimney could cause a backdraft of
CO into the home. Do not cap chimney. This
will cause a backdraft of CO into the home.
3. Do not cap or cover a draft hood or exhaust
vent to any appliance. This will trap danger-
ous CO inside the house.
4. Do not close off or confine your fuel-burning
appliances in a closed area. They need
plenty of ventilation to operate properly.
5. Do not use liquid propane (LP) or charcoal
grills indoors.
6. Do not operate any gasoline-powered equip-
ment indoors.
7. Allow for plenty of ventilation when using a
kerosene heater. Do not use in small areas.
Preventive maintenance, common sense, and a
CO detection device are some of the best meth-
ods of preventing CO poisoning. However, a
dangerous situation can happen to anyone at
any time.
Continued...
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VII: IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Fire Safety Tips
These guidelines will assist you in the event of a
fire. However, to reduce the chance that fires will
start, practice fire safety rules and prevent haz-
ardous situations.
• Familiarize everyone with the sound of a
smoke alarm and explain what it means.
• Determine TWO exits from each room and an
escape route to the outside from each exit.
• Teach all household members to touch the
door. INSTRUCT THEM NOT TO OPEN THE
DOOR IF THE DOOR IS HOT.
• Teach household members to crawl along the
floor to stay below dangerous smoke, fumes,
and gases.
• Determine a safe meeting place for all
members outside the building.
What to Do in Case of a Fire
1. Don’t panic; stay calm.
2. Leave the building as quickly as possible.
Touch doors with the back of your hand to
feel if they are hot before opening them. IF
DOOR IS HOT USE AN ALTERNATE EXIT.
Crawl along the floor, and DO NOT stop to
collect anything.
3. Meet at a pre-arranged meeting place outside
the building.
4. Call the fire department from OUTSIDE the
building.
5. DO NOT GO BACK INSIDE A BURNING
BUILDING. Wait for the fire department to
arrive.