Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke will not awaken you. As a matter of fact, the poisonous gases actually put you into a deeper sleep. Since the majority of fatal fires happen at night, it is essential to have working smoke detectors throughout your home to awaken you in a fire emergency.

For the best protection, make sure you have at least one smoke detector on each level of your home and in or near all sleeping areas. Test the alarms each week and replace the batteries once a year. Detectors that are part of a monitored system can automatically summon the fire department. In addition to early warning systems, technology is available for fire sprinkler systems in homes and other dwellings. This technology should always be used with early warning detection systems. 

When fire strikes your home, authorities say you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape. It is imperative that you have a well rehearsed Escape Plan which includes all members of the family that are old enough to understand, and provides for those that are not.

Studying and practicing a plan could save lives! When dealing with a fire, there is no time to gather personal belongings. The time you take trying could mean the difference between life and death. So always follow the golden rule of survival in the event of a fire, and GET OUT IMMEDIATELY!