State Rep. Kevin Schmidt Urges Area Families To Take Fire Safety Measures To Prevent Serious Injury Or Death

MILSTADT, Ill. - In light of the recent house fires in Cahokia Heights, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is reminding area residents to implement a fire prevention plan.

As many as two houses have caught fire in Cahokia Heights in the span of one week killing three people. Schmidt says families should have a fire escape plan and should take other precautions both to prevent fires as well as to ensure escape should a fire break out.

“These horrific fires in Cahokia Heights should serve as a reminder of the need to take fire prevention seriously,” Schmidt said. “It is important to have a plan for fires and to make sure everyone living in the house knows the plan.”

The American Red Cross recommends taking these steps to prepare for a fire:

• Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
• Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
• Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell “Fire“ to alert everyone that they must get out.
• Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
• Smoke outside and don’t smoke in bed.
• Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Use flashlights when the power is out, not candles.
• DON'T leave a burning candle unattended, even for a minute.

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