Establish a home fire safety plan

People rely on fire and smoke detectors to help keep them safe in their homes. Though fire and smoke alarms are effective, a firm fire safety plan that will keep everyone calm should a fire occur could make the difference between life and death.

The U.S. Fire Administration says that more than 3,500 Americans die each year in fires, while roughly 18,300 more men, women and children are injured each year. Cooking accounts for the greatest percentage of residential fires, followed by arson. Dryer vent fires are also a big concern. FEMA says that smoke, rather than the fire's flames, is responsible for 75 percent of all deaths by fire.

In addition to physical injury and material damage, fires can cause a host of problems. Psychological distress, monetary damages and loss of pets may come with fires. Loss of irreplaceable personal items is also a concern. Although fires can be devastating, they're also highly preventable, and smoke alarms and a home fire safety plan are two precautionary measures everyone should take.

Creating an evacuation plan doesn't have to be complicated. Such a plan can be established in a few minutes and then reinforced through practice every so often to keep everyone fresh on what to do.

* Begin by assessing the layout of the home. Figure out the two best exits from the home.

* If your home doesn't have two doors, invest in a fire ladder so that one of the windows can be a point of exit.

* Know how to gain access to the exits, including the best path to take to avoid injury. It's a good idea to consider a few different scenarios. A kitchen adjacent to the upstairs staircase may become engulfed in flames and make exit by way of staircase impossible. Just because you have doors to the outside doesn't mean they'll present the best type of exit.

* Sketch out the layout of the home and the escape plan. Smoke can make it difficult to know up from down. Be sure everyone can reach the exits even if vision is obstructed. Try it with your eyes closed.

* Check fire alarms routinely, and change batteries at least every year.

* Make sure windows can be easily opened if they are an exit point.

* Make note of who will be helping children or the elderly out of the home.

* Establish a place where the family will meet outdoors. This area should be far enough away from the home so that everyone will be safe from smoke, flames and falling debris. Fires may ignite fuel explosions, so be sure the meeting spot is a good deal away.

* Children should be instructed to run to the meeting spot immediately without waiting behind for anyone to catch up. No one should reenter the home after arriving at the meeting spot.

* Do a few practice runs so that everyone will be accustomed to getting out quickly.

* While in most cases it is better to escape and let the fire department extinguish a fire, in the event of a small fire, occupants may be able to stanch it with a personal fire extinguisher. Follow the acronym PASS to properly put out the fire.

- PULL the pin in the extinguisher.

- AIM the nozzle or hose at the base of the flames.

- SQUEEZE the trigger.

- SWEEP the foam across the fire base; do not just aim in one place.

Fire safety is very important. In conjunction with smoke alarms, a fire safety plan can help everyone get out alive.