Fire safety

With this weekends tragic fire in Salisbury bringing Marylands total 2007 fire fatalities to 90,I wanted to take a moment and remind everyone to try and have a safe holiday.Please check your smoke detector TODAY and make sure the battieries are good.Also...
*If you have any gas or other fuel burning appliances,please invest in a CO2 detector-carbon monoxide is just as lethal as fire!!
*If you use a fireplace,have it inspected if you havent already to prevent creosote buildup and/or obstructions like leaves and birdsnests.
*Keep combustibles away from all heat sources,especially forced air heating ducts and electric baseboard heaters.
*If you MUST use a portable kerosene heater,please give it 3 feet of room and ventilate by cracking a window.Lighting it outside also eliminates deadly fumes from ignition.Also use the proper methods of storage and delivery,in a can specifically for kerosense(they are blue) Never fill heater indoors or when it is hot.
*Do NOT leave a hot stove unattended when cooking.
*Make sure all exits,ie,doors and windows,in your home are accessible and not blocked by clutter or furnishings.If you put plastic on your windows in the winter,be sure to have something handy nearby to cut it in an emergency,so you can get out/NEVER block an entry door with plastic!
*If you or someone else in the home smokes,keep matches and lighters locked up or on a high shelf so that children cannot reach them and play with them!NEVER smoke in bed,dump a "hot" ashtray,or flick a cigarette outdoors near your home(or anywhere for that matter)Extinguish pipes,cigars or cigarettes completely.
*Invest in a fire extinguisher with an ABC rating-various organizations like the Jaycees sell them or any store like Walmart or Lowes.
*Have a fire safety plan in your home-know all possible exits and remind everyone not to go get anything to take with you.Keep your cell phone(if you have one) handy so you can call 911 from OUTSIDE.
*If you must have a real tree this Christmas,water it daily!
*Do not overload electrical outlets, or run cords under rugs and check cords for damage.
* Do not leave candles burning unsupervised around pets or children.
I think I covered most of it,but if you want to be extra safe,most local fire depts will come to your home and do a fire safety inspection upon request.
And last but not least,support your local volunteer fire department!Donations are usually tax-deductible and if they are to do their job effectively,they have to upgrade their fire fighting apparatus frequently!!!
I dont want to come across as preachy,and nobody can prevent all fires but we can all do our best to remove any hazards from our home.Material things like posessions and houses can be replaced,lives cannot.