The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Rags soaked with paint, oil, or waxes can ignite spontaneously and are especially dangerous if Ashtrays should be deep enough to properly support a cigarette, and they must be kept away from blowing curtains. If you have someone in the house who insists on smoking in bed, install a smoke detector in that room. Lets take a tour of your home right now and identify hazards that could cause a fire; like frayed cords on lamps and appliances; electrical cords running under carpeting; multiple adaptors plugged into a receptacle that could cause circuit overload. Every year, firemen discover bodies collapsed against doors that should have lead them to safety because people fail to preâ€" pare for one of the major killers in the home. Have you ever groped your way down a smokeâ€"filled hallway, choking on acrid black smoke. Then fumbled at a lock that reâ€" fused to open while flames crackâ€" led in your ear. Prevent a killer fire in your family home Smoke kills more people every year than fire. In just seconds, smoke and poisonous superâ€"heatâ€" ed gases can race through the house, killing you as you sleep Kitchen fire safety is a matter of common sense. Don‘t store paper towels or other comâ€" bustibles near the stove, and if a pot of hot grease ignites, don‘t try to carry it outside. You could drop it and spread the fire throughout the house. Cover it with a tight lid to smother the flames. Have your furnace checked and cleaned yearly by a qualified techâ€" nician, and check the chimney flues regularly, especially if burnâ€" ing coal or wood. stored near the furnace. Store used rags in a sealed metal conâ€" tainer, and don‘t accumulate old newspapers and paint soaked dropâ€"sheets. EV Y HOME A An overhanging porch roof often makes a perfect escape from a secondâ€"story bedroom. If there is no such escape from the second floor, store a fire ladder nearby. Fireâ€"ladders are not exâ€" pensive and can be purchased in many automotive, hardware, and fire safety stores. Once your fireâ€"route is set up and you have practised on it a couple of times, establish a meetâ€" Being prepared for a fire means that every member of the household must be ready to react instantly. Have an escape route planned that can be followed by smokeâ€"blinded people day or night. Doors on the fire route must open easily, and there should be an alternative in case that route is blocked. long before the flames ever get out of the basement. If you are installing battery opâ€" erated detectors, one unit is not enough. Most smoke alarms come with installation instructions that advise you how many units you require. Since they are not Smoke detectors will justify an entire column at a later date, but must be addressed briefly now. Probably no other single element of fire prevention can save as many lives as smoke alarms, but only if they are properly mounted and maintained. ing point where all members of the household will gather during It could be the neighbour‘s lawn or a certain tree. Wherever it is, be sure everyone understands the urgency of checking in at that poâ€" sition. If they don‘t, they endanâ€" ger the life of anyone who atâ€" tempts to enter the burning building looking for them. expensive, buy as many as you need, and be sure to check the batteries as directed and keep the units clean. It isn‘t a lot of work, but it will make your life much safer. Your Weekly Tip: Never attempt to fight a fire until after everyone in the house has been warned and the fire department has been called.