Whether or not you have a fireplace in your home, there is still the potential for a house fire. If a fire does break out in your home, you may only have two minutes to be able to escape. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to identify and remove all fire hazards from your home. Another excellent way to protect yourself, your family, and your home is to know and follow important home fire safety tips. At Ashbusters, we like to educate our customers on fire safety, and we would like to share with you some fire safety tips we feel are essential.
Install Smoke Alarms.
According to the Red Cross, 60% of house fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms installed. You should install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Make it a monthly routine to check your smoke alarms to be sure they are still working properly. Smoke alarms will usually last for at least 10 years.
Have an Escape Plan in Place.
Everyone in your home should know two methods of escape from every room in your home. Designate a meeting place outside. Time your escape plan as you generally will have about two minutes to get out. Practice your escape plan with your family to be sure everyone knows how to proceed in an emergency. Also practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling, and meeting outside. Be sure everyone in the house knows how to dial 911. Teach family members how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothes happen to catch on fire.
Cook Safely.
Always stay in the kitchen when cooking, frying, or broiling food. Do not leave your home when roasting, boiling, baking or simmering food. Always check on food, and set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Keep all flammable items like pot holders, towels, clothing, and plastic away from the stove. Keep all pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them knocking things onto the burners.
Use Common Sense.
Keep flammable items at least three feet away from space heaters, fireplaces, and other heating appliances. Turn off portable heaters when you leave the room and when you go to sleep. Never smoke in bed. Talk to your children on a regular basis about the dangers of fire, matches, and lighters, and keep them out of reach.
Understand the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide.
Like smoke alarms, install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, move quickly to the fresh air outdoors or stand by an open window or door. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or any other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal burning devices inside a home, a garage, basement, crawlspace, or other partially enclosed space.
If you would like to know more home fire safety tips, contact Ashbusters. We pride ourselves on educating our customers on safety procedures.