Many US homes use natural gas for heating, hot water and stoves, and many are built of wood. Three alarms protect you: smoke, carbon monoxide and your own nose.
There should be a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every floor.
Test them every month: press the button until it beeps loudly.
A short chirp every minute means the battery is low. Replace it, or ask your landlord to.
Never remove the battery because of cooking smoke. Open a window and fan the smoke instead.
Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see or smell. It comes from furnaces, gas water heaters, stoves, fireplaces, cars and generators. It can kill.
Your home should have CO alarms near bedrooms. Many states require them. Test them like smoke alarms.
Symptoms: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, confusion. If several people or pets feel sick at home at the same time, think CO.
If the CO alarm sounds: get everyone outside to fresh air now and call 911.
Never use a gas oven to heat your home. Never run a car in a closed garage. Never use a grill or generator indoors.
Natural gas has a smell added like rotten eggs or sulfur so you can notice a leak.
Leave the home immediately. Leave the door open.
Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, light a match, or use a phone inside. A spark can start a fire.
From outside and away from the building, call 911 or your gas company's emergency number.
Do not go back in until they say it is safe.
Stay in the kitchen while frying or using the stovetop. Cooking is a top cause of home fires.
For a small grease fire in a pan, put a lid on it and turn off the heat. Never pour water on grease.
Keep space heaters at least 3 feet (1 meter) from anything that can burn, and turn them off when you leave or sleep.
Do not overload power strips or run cords under rugs.
Know two ways out of every room.
Choose a meeting place outside, like a tree or a mailbox.
If there is a fire: get out, stay out, call 911. Do not stop for belongings. Crawl low under smoke. Feel doors with the back of your hand before opening; if hot, use another way.
In apartment buildings, use the stairs, not the elevator.
Covering a smoke alarm while cooking and forgetting to uncover it.
Ignoring a CO alarm because "it is probably broken".
Calling the gas company from inside the home.