What fire precautions should I take if I have a second floor?

What fire precautions should I take if I have a second floor?

Stacy Gerlich (Fire Captain & Paramedic) gives expert video advice on: What are common household fire hazards?; How can I prevent household electrical fires?; How can I prevent household fireplace fires? and more...

If you have a second floor, or even a third floor, the first fire precautions you should take is to always have a fire extinguisher on every level. That's a cheap insurance for the price we paid for our homes. Another consideration in fire precaution would be an escape ladder, so you can throw it out a window. Speaking of windows, make sure that they are not painted shut, that they are not nailed shut, and often times we put a bar in there to prevent a burglar coming in. So just know that these are the kind of things that could certainly prevent you from escaping a very serious situation if you were on a second floor.