Safety Hacks

Every hack is checked against a cited source · open the link to see where it comes from.

• 🚨

  Make a family emergency communication plan

  Decide in advance how your household will reconnect and who to call if a disaster separates you.

  1. 1📝Write down numbers
  2. 2📞Out-of-town contact
  3. 3📍Pick meeting spots
  4. 4💬Text to reconnect

  Steps

  1. Write down each member's name, mobile number, and important medical or other info.
  2. Pick an out-of-town contact everyone can call or text to relay messages.
  3. Choose a neighborhood meeting place and an out-of-neighborhood meeting place.
  4. Fill in Ready.gov's plan form, print it, and share a copy with everyone.
  5. Remember texts often get through when calls cannot, so plan to text first.

  Why it works

  Emergencies can separate a family and overload phone lines, so a pre-agreed contact and meeting place lets everyone reconnect quickly.

  Good to know: In a life-threatening emergency call 911 first · the plan is for reconnecting, not for delaying help.

  Source: Ready.gov (FEMA)
• 🚨

  Build a 3-day emergency kit with water and food

  Stock at least three days of water and non-perishable food so you can shelter or evacuate safely.

  1. 1💧1 gal/person/day
  2. 2🥫3 days of food
  3. 3🔦Radio + flashlight
  4. 4🩹First aid kit

  Steps

  1. Store one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.
  2. Add at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
  3. Include a flashlight, a battery or hand-crank radio, and a first aid kit.
  4. Keep extra batteries and a manual can opener in the kit.
  5. Store the kit somewhere easy to grab and review supplies periodically.

  Why it works

  After a disaster you may have no power or clean water for days, so a stocked kit covers drinking, sanitation, and basic needs until help or services return.

  Good to know: A kit supports sheltering · in an immediate emergency get to safety and call 911 rather than stopping to pack.

  Source: Ready.gov (FEMA)
• 🚨

  Plan two ways out of every room

  Map a home fire escape with two exits per room, an outside meeting place, and a twice-a-year drill.

  1. 1🗺️Draw home map
  2. 2🚪Two ways out
  3. 3📍Outside meeting spot
  4. 4🏃Practice the drill

  Steps

  1. Draw a map of your home marking all doors and windows.
  2. Find two ways out of every room in case one is blocked.
  3. Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
  4. Practice the drill with everyone twice a year, by day and night.
  5. Once out, stay out and call the fire department from outside.

  Why it works

  You may have less than two minutes to escape once a smoke alarm sounds, so a practiced plan with two exits per room means no one freezes or gets trapped.

  Good to know: Get out and stay out · never go back inside for belongings, and call 911 from outside.

  Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
• 🚨

  Put smoke alarms on every level and test monthly

  Install alarms inside and outside every bedroom and on each level, and test them once a month.

  1. 1🔔Near every bedroom
  2. 2🏠Every level
  3. 3🗓️Test monthly
  4. 4🔟Replace at 10 yrs

  Steps

  1. Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area.
  2. Install alarms on every level of the home, including the basement.
  3. Test every alarm monthly by pushing the test button.
  4. Replace the battery at least once a year on battery models.
  5. Replace the entire alarm 10 years after its manufacture date.

  Why it works

  Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire roughly in half by giving early warning, but only if they are placed throughout the home and kept working.

  Good to know: Never disable an alarm or remove its battery to stop nuisance beeps · that can be a deadly mistake. In a fire, get out and call 911.

  Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
• 🚨

  Install carbon monoxide alarms

  Place CO alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level, and learn the alarm sound.

  1. 1🟢Outside bedrooms
  2. 2🏠Every level
  3. 3🔊Know the sound
  4. 4🌬️Get to fresh air

  Steps

  1. Install a CO alarm outside each separate sleeping area.
  2. Put a CO alarm on every level of the home, including the basement.
  3. Test alarms and make sure everyone knows the CO alarm sound.
  4. If it sounds, move everyone to fresh air outdoors right away.
  5. Call for help from the fresh-air location and account for everyone.

  Why it works

  Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas you cannot see or smell, so an alarm is the only reliable way to detect a dangerous buildup before it harms you.

  Good to know: If the CO alarm sounds, get everyone to fresh air and call 911 · do not stay inside to investigate.

  Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• 🚨

  Use a fire extinguisher with the PASS method

  Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep · and only ever fight a small, contained fire.

  1. 1🧯Pull the pin
  2. 2🎯Aim at the base
  3. 3✊Squeeze lever
  4. 4↔️Sweep side to side

  Steps

  1. Pull the pin, holding the nozzle pointed away from you.
  2. Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
  3. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
  4. Sweep the nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire.
  5. Keep your back to a clear exit so you can escape if it grows.

  Why it works

  Most home extinguishers empty in under 30 seconds, so a fast, correct technique aimed at the fire's base is the only way one can knock down a small fire.

  Good to know: Only fight a small fire · if it is spreading, the room is filling with smoke, or you feel unsafe, get everyone out and call 911.

  Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• 🚨

  Save Poison Control · 1-800-222-1222

  Program the free 24/7 Poison Help line into your phone before you ever need it.

  1. 1📱Save in phone
  2. 2🧲Post on fridge
  3. 3☎️1-800-222-1222
  4. 4🕐Free, 24/7

  Steps

  1. Save 1-800-222-1222 in every household phone as 'Poison Control.'
  2. Post the number near phones and on the fridge.
  3. Call it for any suspected poisoning · it is free and confidential 24/7.
  4. Or use the online tool at PoisonHelp.org for guided help.
  5. Have the product or substance in hand when you call.

  Why it works

  Poison Control routes you to experts who can tell you whether an exposure is dangerous and what to do, often avoiding an unnecessary ER trip while catching the truly serious cases.

  Good to know: If the person collapses, has a seizure, cannot breathe, or cannot be woken, call 911 immediately instead.

  Source: Poison Control (America's Poison Centers)
• 🚨

  Stop, drop, and roll if clothes catch fire

  Smother flames on your body by dropping and rolling instead of running.

  1. 1🛑Stop, don't run
  2. 2⬇️Drop down
  3. 3🙈Cover your face
  4. 4🔄Roll till out

  Steps

  1. Stop where you are · do not run, which feeds the flames more air.
  2. Drop to the ground.
  3. Cover your face with your hands to protect it.
  4. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out.
  5. Then cool the burn and seek medical care.

  Why it works

  Running fans the flames and spreads fire across clothing, while dropping and rolling smothers it by cutting off the oxygen the fire needs to keep burning.

  Good to know: After the flames are out, cool the burn with cool water and call 911 for serious burns · this technique is only for clothing that is on fire.

  Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
• 🚨

  Fall-proof your home

  Remove tripping hazards, add grab bars and handrails, and brighten the lighting.

  1. 🪤Cluttered, dim
  2. 💡Clear, grab bars, bright

  Steps

  1. Remove or secure throw rugs and clear clutter from floors and stairs.
  2. Install grab bars next to and inside the tub and beside the toilet.
  3. Add handrails on both sides of every staircase.
  4. Improve lighting and replace dim or burned-out bulbs.
  5. Keep frequently used items within easy reach to avoid step stools.

  Why it works

  Falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults and most happen at home, but simple changes like grab bars, handrails, and better lighting measurably cut the risk.

  Good to know: If a fall causes a head injury, severe pain, or someone cannot get up, call 911 · do not move a seriously injured person.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• 🚨

  Know how to shut off gas, water, and electric

  Find and learn your home's main shutoffs before a disaster forces you to act fast.

  1. 1🔥Gas main valve
  2. 2💧Water main valve
  3. 3⚡Electric panel
  4. 4👨‍👩‍👧Teach the household

  Steps

  1. Locate the gas meter's outside main valve and the tool needed to turn it.
  2. Find the main house water valve (not the street valve at the curb).
  3. Locate the electrical circuit box and learn how to shut it off.
  4. Make sure every responsible household member knows each shutoff.
  5. Ask your gas company about the correct procedure for your meter.

  Why it works

  After an earthquake, flood, or leak, shutting off a utility quickly can prevent fire, electrocution, or water damage while you wait for crews.

  Good to know: If you smell gas or hear hissing, open a window, get everyone out, and call from a neighbor's home · once gas is off, only a qualified pro may turn it back on.

  Source: Ready.gov (FEMA)