Fire safety in the home is of the greatest importance and there are a range of measures you can take to keep your family and home safe from fire. Here are some of the most important ones.
Fire evacuation plan:
Understanding what to do in the event of a fire is the cornerstone of fire safety. develop a fire evacuation plan for your home and ensure all family members understand what to do. As a fire can commence just about anywhere in the home, multiple exit strategies should be included. If you have deadlocks and security doors, you’ll want to make certain the keys are obtainable so that exit is not delayed or prevented. Explain to children the need to stay low to reduce smoke inhalation as they move towards an exit, and that they should never ever delay leaving to retrieve a pet, toy or other items. You’ll find plenty of detailed information online about creating a fire evacuation plan for your home.
Fire Extinguisher Training:
Every home ought to have a fire extinguisher, but your extinguisher might be of little use if only one person knows how to use it. Train every family member to use the fire extinguisher, and make certain they understand what to do for different types of fires.
Smoke Alarms:
A working smoke alarm is designed to alert you to a fire, which makes them a priority when it comes to fire safety precautions . They are very sensitive – for good reason – and can be activated by even a small amount of smoke such as that generated by burning toast. The primary function of the smoke alarm is to alert you to the presence of a fire if you are asleep. Fire can spread easily and a swift response is essential. Once you have smoke alarms installed, be sure to change the batteries when required and test the alarms periodically.
Other Fire Safety Measures:
These safety measures might seem simple, but a astonishing number of house fires are started because these precautions haven’t been taken:
- Heaters should be at least three feet away from curtains, bedding and clothing.
- Matches and lighters should always be stored above the reach of children.
- Candles should not be positioned near curtains or other flammable items.
- Food cooking on the stove top should not be left unattended. If you are multi-tasking while cooking and are working in another area of the home, set an alarm to remind you to check the pot!
- Don’t overload power points with multiple double adaptors and power boards. If you have a great deal of appliances in one room, have an electrician install some additional power points.