Fires are common, albeit unfortunate, and pose a major risk to most homeowners and family members. House fires can cause death and massive property damage. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of safe fire prevention methods. This article provides four tips to help keep your family safe from fires.
1. Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers
National Fire Protection Association data shows an average of 358,000 house fires occur yearly. One of the actions you can take to prevent house fires is installing smoke alarms in every space of your home, from the kitchen to corridors. They alert you when they detect fire, enabling you to prevent it from spreading. Some jurisdictions have laws that require homeowners to install these systems. The smoke detectors need inspection at least once a month, and changing batteries yearly.
For extra precaution, the NFPA25 Code outlines that fire protection systems require regular visual inspections and functional tests monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. Others require five and 10-year intervals to ensure they work perfectly. Additionally, always keep a class ABC fire extinguisher in your home in easy-to-reach areas, especially the kitchen, garage, office, and bedrooms.
2. Unplug Unused Electrical Items
Another way to ensure your family is safe is by unplugging electrical gadgets when not in use. These appliances pose a potential hazard. TVs, computers, gaming systems, and iron boxes use electricity and can experience power surges or overheat, causing a fire. While new models are designed with systems to safeguard the consumer against fire accidents, they aren’t foolproof.
For instance, many fire accidents emanate from defective electric cookers. These fires can cause devasting damage in some cases, consuming a whole estate. Even the smallest estates have valuable assets. Estates whose residents earn less than $100,000 fall into the category of small estates.
3. Create a Fire Escape Plan
Preventing a fire is crucial. However, in case of emergencies, you need a fire escape plan if there’s a fire outbreak. A good escape plan should include seeking assistance in an emergency and an escape route before the emergency service providers arrive. Remember, emergency service providers serve a massive population, and numerous cases can overwhelm them. Approximately 67% of firefighters service communities with over 25,000 people.
Hypothetically, if the door is closed, it should enable your family to leave the room. Check the windows to ascertain if there is a way out during a fire or emergency. Also, teach your kids to stay low, block fires using doors and other tools, get fresh air during a fire, and check for a fire outside the door. They should also know where to go after getting out of a burning house and always remind them never to get into a burning house.
4. Keep Flammable Items Away From Heat
The last thing you should do is keep flammable items such as paper, fabrics, or cans next to heat sources. For instance, keep cooking oils and car gas far from stoves. Petrol can catch fire even when it’s quite a distance from the fire. Store any item that could cause a fire in safe cabinets and out of children’s reach. Similarly, some chemicals can cause fire after a reaction. They burst and cause explosions which can cause fires. Familiarize yourself with safe use if you use chemicals in your homes.
Fires are dangerous and fatal. Ensure you put preventive measures in place to prevent fire, protect your family and loved ones, and keep your house safe. For instance, you should install fire extinguishers and create an escape plan. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
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