Make it a habit to unplug all counter appliances when not in use.
Store cigarette lighters and matches out of the reach of children.
Practice home fire drills regularly. Make them realistic. Pretend that some
escape routes are blocked by smoke or fire and practice using alternate exits.
Install a carbon monoxide detector. They are especially useful in the newer
energy-efficient homes with tight weather seals.
Don't use an outdoor grill or charcoal grill indoors. (Don't laugh, it
happens!)
Test your smoke detector monthly to make sure it's operable.
If your smoke detector is battery-operated or has a batter backup system,
change the batteries twice a year.