Fire prevention technology may change, but some of the most important ways to protect a family remain remarkably simple.
Smiths Falls Fire Prevention Officer Jason Smith is using Fire Prevention Week as a reminder to go back to the basics.
That includes knowing how everyone would get out of the house if a fire started.
Smith says families should sit down together, talk through an escape plan and make sure there are two possible ways out whenever possible.
Families should also choose a meeting spot outside, such as a tree, the end of the driveway or another easily recognized location.
That helps everyone account for one another without anyone trying to go back inside.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms remain another critical layer of protection. Smith says checking them takes only seconds.
If a fire does happen, Smith’s message is straightforward: get out, stay out and call 911.
He says Fire Prevention Week may provide an annual reminder, but families should make fire safety part of their routine throughout the year.
