Today I popped into a 'prepare yourself for winter' day designed for the older generation* and picked up a few leaflets from the  Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service.  

Much it was common sense, but one checklist which caught my eye was the Bedtime Check:

• close inside doors - to stop a fire from spreading
• turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they're designed to be left on (such as freezer).  This sounds daft but I did do it once!
• check the cooker is turned off
• don't leave the washing machine on
• turn heaters off and put up fire guards
• put candles and cigarettes out properly
• make sure exits are kept clear
• keep door and window keys where everyone can find them

Another was How to escape from a high level building:

• avoid using lifts and balconies if there is a fire
• it's easy to get confused in smoke, so count how many doors you need to go through to reach the stairs
• check there is nothing in the corridors or stairways that could catch fire - like boxes or rubbish
• make sure doors to stairways are not locked
• make sure everyone in the building knows where the fire alarms are
• if you live in a flat, you should still get a smoke alarm for your own flat, even if there's a warning system in the lock

And also General Advice:

• plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows how to escape
• the best route is the normal one in and out of your home
• keep exits clear
• think of a second route in case the first one is blocked
• take a few minutes to practice your escape plan
• review the plan if the layout of your home changesbefore you open a door check if it's warm.  If it is, don't open it - fire is on the other side.
• keep electrical applicances clean and in good working order
• check furniture has the fire-resistant permanent label
• don't leave the kitchen when cookers are on
• regularly check the smoke alarm
• fit suitable smoke alarms

And finally, What to do if there is a fire:

• don't tackle the fire yourself - leave it to the professionals
• keep calm and act quickly
• get everyone out as soon as possible
• don't waste time investigating what's happened or rescuing valuables
• if there's smoke, keep low where the air's clearer
• before you open a door check if it's warm and if it is then don't open it - fire is on the other side . . . and ....
• call 999 as soon as you're clear of the building - this is free

* I didn't realise I was 'the older generation' until seeing the paper that 'an elderly person of 62' was rescued from somewhere - 62 elderly!!