Practice Escape Drills at Home

 and check the batteries in your smoke detectors.

                          HI. I'm Chief Nicholson.

   I am the Fire Marshal at Osage Beach Fire District. 

You may have seen me checking out your school, home, or local businesses looking for fire hazards. I want everyone to be safe so let's review some very important fire safety rules. Help mom and dad by doing these safety activities together. 

1. Remind your parents to check the batteries in all the smoke  detectors in your house every month. Push the smoke alarm test button to make sure both the batteries and the detector are working properly. 

2. Draw an escape plan from every room in your house. There should be two escape routes out of every room. Make sure everyone in your house knows how to escape if there is a fire (including your friends when they come over to spend the night). You should also include an outside meeting place where everyone will meet. Make sure it is a permanent object that does not move like a mailbox or a big tree. 

3. Practice the escape plan often, and that means everyone in your family. Make a game out of it and see how quickly everyone can safely get to the outdoor meeting place. Use a watch with a second hand to time the results.

 4. If you hear a smoke alarm get out of the house quickly. Do not  waste precious time trying to collect your favorite toys. Just get out quickly! 

5. If you are trapped in a fire, stay low and cover your face with your t-shirt so you don't breathe the smoke; and NEVER, EVER hide from a firefighter. We might look scary, but under that mask is a friendly firefighter trying to help you escape safely.

                           NEVER HIDE FROM A FRIENDLY FIREFIGHTER