All families should have an established plan of action in case of a residential fire or other catastrophe. In order to minimize injury to members of your household, foster parents should take the following fire safety precautions:

• Install smoke detectors on all levels of the home, in the kitchen and near bedrooms. Check smoke detectors on a regular basis and change batteries twice a year, preferably during the fall and spring months when the time changes. 
• Smoke detectors should be installed on the ceiling or 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling, if possible, every 40-50 feet on each floor of the home. Do not install detectors above “drop ceilings.” 
• Fire extinguishers may be kept in the kitchen area to be used in putting out cooking related fires. Familiarize yourself with manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Identify potential exit points in the home in case of a fire. Make household members aware of each. 
• Inform newly placed children, depending upon their level of development, of the family’s fire safety plan. 
• Conduct a fire drill twice a year at least. Instruct family members how to exit a burning, smoke-filled structure: Stay low (smoke and heat rise), cover nose and mouth with a handy cloth, and crawl out. 
• Consider keeping a strong hemp rope with a slip knot or some other safety device in a safe location for easy retrieval if rooms are located on an upper level. Check with your local fire department for additional information on how to safely exit from upper level areas of the home. 
• Specify a meeting place outside the home for family members. 
• Call or have neighbors call 911 immediately.

Other sources for obtaining fire prevention measures include local fire, health and medical services, and County Extension Services.

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