This year's campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns. Additionally, families are encouraged to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs. Citizens are also encouraged to install and maintain working smoke detectors throughout their homes.

The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the emergency rooms for burn injuries. In Ohio, 85 people have died in fires as of September 30, 2009. Last year, 184 Ohioans lost their lives as a result of fires.

"The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns," said Interim State Fire Marshal Donald C. Cooper. "Taking simple measures and using common sense will go a long way in stopping these mostly preventable injuries."

By following simple safety rules, you can "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned."

* Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
* Have a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove.
* Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
* Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
* Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in an outlet.
* Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.
* Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
* Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
* Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 85 years, fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.