October is National Fire Prevention Month! Did you know that according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the U.S. averages about 88,600 apartment building fires each year for the past ten years?  Unattended cooking is listed as the number one cause of residential fires. 

Here are a few tip that you can share with your residents:

• Make sure Smoke Detectors are working
• Keep flammable materials such as curtains, candles, towels, & papers away from heat sources like heaters & stoves.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets & extension cords.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Develop a fire escape plan with two exit routes from each room.
• Teach children how to stop, drop, & roll if their clothes catch fire.
• Make sure you know where the fire extinguisher is located.
• If a fire occurs evacuate immediately. Do not waste time gathering belongings.
• Call 911
• Never re-enter a burning building. Wait for firefighters to arrive & handle the situation.

Have a coloring contest for the kiddos. Instead of one prize, give them all a certificate to Sparky's Fire Safety Club.  https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/resource/sparkys-fire-safety-certificate/