Follow these general propane safety precautions to keep your home and family safe:

• Be alert for the odor of propane when around a gas appliance or container.
  
• If you smell gas, do not try to light the appliance. Call Midwest Propane for a service technician to assist you.
  
• Read and follow the operating and lighting instructions and warning labels provided by the appliance manufacturer.
  
• The pilot has a safety device. If you have trouble keeping it lit, this device is warning you about a problem. Call a service technician to assist you.
  
• Never force any appliance control. If you cannot operate the knobs, switches, or buttons by hand, call your supplier. NEVER tamper with the controls.
  
• Keep combustibles, such as curtains, paper, cleaning fluids, etc., away from any energy source, including gas and electric appliances where they may cause a fire.
  
• Have a B/C rated fire extinguisher readily available. Be sure it is charged and that you and your family know how to use it.

If you think you smell propane in your home, camper, RV or the area around any gas equipment, or if a gas alarm signals the presence of propane, you should IMMEDIATELY follow these suggestions:

• Extinguish all smoking materials and any other open flames or sources of ignition. Everyone should vacate the building, vehicle or area.
  
• Move away without using any electric switches, appliances, thermostats, or telephones.
  
• Close the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder.
  
• Call Midwest Propane and/or your local fire department from a cellular telephone or a neighbor’s telephone.
  
• Even if you do not continue to smell propane, do not open or turn on the propane supply valve. Do not re-enter the building, vehicle or area. Let a qualified propane service technician and/or emergency personnel check for escaped propane.
  
• Have a properly trained propane service technician repair the leak. The propane service technician or emergency responder needs to determine that the leak situation has been fully resolved. The propane service technician should check all of your gas appliances and re-light any appliance pilots.
  
• Return to the building, camper, RV or area only when the service or emergency technician indicates it is safe to do so.