Be proactive in the New Year by taking the necessary steps to protect your home and family from the disastrous effects of fire. Look for and eliminate home hazards such as overloaded electrical outlets and unsafe smoking and cooking practices. Install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each of the bedrooms. Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Keep a multi-purpose (dry-chemical) portable fire extinguisher close at hand for extinguishing small fires. Include a collapsible fire escape ladder for use on the upper floors of the home. The ladder should only be used as a last-ditch effort to escape if the stairwell is blocked, cutting off traditional exit pathways from the home.

The fire department offers free home safety surveys and smoke alarm checks as part of its community outreach programs. For additional information on home fire safety or to schedule a fire and life safety presentation, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678.518.4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com. For more tips to keep you safe throughout the year, visit www.gwinnettsafety411.com.