• Turn off all heat-producing appliances before leaving home (e.g. clothes dryers, irons, curling irons, stoves, coffee makers, etc.).
  
• Know the location of your gas, electric, and water shutoffs. Keep these areas free from clutter.
  
• Dispose of household hazardous waste properly.

• Dangerous items include knives, guns, fireworks, medical waste, blasting caps, matches and lighters.
  
• Teach children when they see a dangerous item to:
  STOP, DON'T TOUCH, WALK AWAY, TELL AN ADULT.
  
• If you have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked. The gun and ammunition should be stored in separate containers.

• Teach children how to dial 911 in emergencies. They should know their address, phone number, and name.
  
• Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
  
• If 911 is dialed by mistake, stay on the line and tell the dispatcher. This will prevent emergency units from needlessly being sent to you.

• Learning CPR and the Heimlich maneuver is everyone's responsibility. For information on CPR courses, please call your local fire station, rescue squad, hospital, or the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
  
• Every April, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services offer CPR training at the annual Life Safer day. Call (301) 217-2440 for more information.

Effective April 5, 1988, Montgomery County law requires that all new or replacement house numbers for single family homes be 5 inches tall. The numbers must be on an contrasting background, easily read, and clearly viewed from the street. Make sure your house numbers are clearly visible at night.

In Montgomery County, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children under age 14.

• Never leave a child unattended near water (e.g. bathtubs, toilets, pools, ponds, buckets, etc.)
  
• A minimum of a 5 foot fence with a self-closing and a self-latching gate must be provided.
  
• All exit doors from the house to the pool must be locked and the locking mechanism must be 5 feet from the floor.
  
• Completely remove any pool covers or blankets when the pool is in use. Always remove standing water from pool covers.
  

• Never dive in water less than 8 feet deep.
  
• Always keep pool chemical supplies and equipment locked up at all times.

1. a well-stocked first aid kit

2. flashlight and working batteries

3. bottled water

4. portable radio and working batteries

5. blankets

• Store cleaners, medicines, and other dangerous products where children will not have access to them. Whenever possible, buy these products in child-resistant packaging.
  
• If a poisoning emergency occurs, call 911. For information about immediate treatment of poisoning, call the poison control center at (202) 625-3333 or 1-800-492-414. Be prepared to give the following information:

• Keep plants out of reach of children and pets. Some plants in and around your home may be poisonous.
  
• Keep Syrup of Ipecac available and use only if the poison control center recommends its use.
  
• Teach children to recognize "Mr. YUK" stickers. Place them on all cleaners, medicines, and other dangerous substances.

• Install a smoke detector on every floor and near sleeping areas. Test your smoke detector monthly and replace batteries when you change your clock in the fall.

• Plan two ways to escape from every room in your home and have a safe outside meeting place.

• If your clothes catch on fire:
  STOP, DROP AND ROLL.

• Set hot water heaters to no more than 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) to prevent burns.

• Make sure that all stairs and walkways are slip resistant, well lit, free from clutter, and in good repair.
  

• Instruct children about safety around open windows. Ensure that open windows have adequate protection against falls. Window screens do not provide enough protection to prevent falls.
  

• Use a sturdy step stool to reach high objects.

• Use non-skid materials when getting into and out of a shower or bathtub. Do not step on a wet floor without skid protection.