Did you know that the most common disaster is also highly preventable? It doesn't matter if you live on the coast or the prairie, the mountains or a flood plain, in the city or on a farm, a home fire can happen to anyone, but there are steps that you and your family can take to learn to how to tame the flame.

First of all, you can make sure that you and your siblings never play around with matches, lighters or other items that get hot or can start fires. Even the biggest blazes begin with just one spark. If you have permission to use the stove to cook, make sure that you never leave your cooking unattended. If you have to leave the room, turn the stove off.

Sit down with your family and make a fire escape plan so that you and everyone in your home can get to safety in the event of a fire. Identify a meeting place outside, a safe distance from your home where you would gather if you had to get out fast. Find two exit ways from every room in your home, like a window and a door. Then make a map, or floor plan, of your home and mark each of the exits on the map. Your fire escape plan includes any quests in your home so share it with friends and other family members when they come to visit. Remember to practice your plan with your whole family twice a year.

Make sure your parents install smoke alarms on every level of your home. You can take turns testing the alarms once a month. Batteries need to be changed once a year. Pick a holiday or someone's birthday to change the batteries so you'll remember to do this every year at the same time. Learn what the smoke alarm sounds like so you could identify it in an emergency. Talk with everyone in your family about what to do when you hear the smoke alarm. You can learn more about how you can help prevent home fires in your home by visiting www.redcross.org/homefires.

Many people don't realize that when the local fire department responds to a home fire, the Red Cross also answers the call, helping those affected by fire by providing shelter, food and medications. But we're also in communities and schools every day teaching people how to prevent and prepare for home fires. You can help by taking action today to tame the flame!