The County of Los Angeles Fire Department encourages all residents to practice “Close Before You Doze,” a critical fire safety measure that can save lives.
Created by Underwriters Laboratories’ Firefighter Safety Research Institute, the “Close Before You Doze” program urges everyone to close their bedroom doors at night as part of their bedtime routine.
In the event of a house fire, residents may only have three minutes or less to escape once a fire starts in your home. Take these simple and important steps to increase your chances of survival:
- Install working smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Check your smoke alarms twice a year and replace them once they stop working according to manufacturer recommendations.
- Close Before You Doze. A closed door may serve as a barrier, reducing room temperatures and limiting the spread of flames and deadly smoke. Studies show that this simple action provides more time for occupants to escape and improves survival rates.
- Create and practice a fire escape plan. If there is a fire in your home, there will not be time to plan a way out in the moment. Create an escape plan for your home and practice it with your family so you are prepared and ready. Make sure your plan includes a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C to get out.
For additional information on “Close Before You Doze,” please visit /cbyd/ and https://closeyourdoor.org.
