Some tips to keep in mind to keep your home and your family safe- this winter, and all year long.

Alarms: Your home should have smoke alarms on every level (even the basement). It's especially important to have them outside of each sleeping area.

Be ready for the real thing. Put your escape plan to the test with a fire drill at least twice a year. That way if a real fire ever happens, everyone in the family will know what to do.

Check to make sure the batteries in your smoke alarms work. Batteries should be replaced once a year, or when you hear the alarm "chirp" -- that means that the battery is low.

Memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. Remind everyone that they should get out first, then call for help from outside, or at a neighbor's home.

Always choose the escape route that is safest. Practice crawling low under smoke in case you must go through it to get out. Smoke is nasty stuff -- even worse than fire itself. To keep from breathing it in, crawl low under the smoke on your hands and knees. Your head will be in a "safety zone" of clean air about knee high.

Make sure that electrical cords are in good condition, with no cracked or frayed areas.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA.