How do you stop fires in your home? And if one were to start, would you know what to do, or how to respond? Rather than assume you're not at risk, take action with the following tips:
Install Smoke Alarms and Other Safety Systems
Whether you live in an apartment or multiroom house, you assume having one smoke alarm is sufficient to alert you to a developing fire. But, it's barely the tip of the iceberg in terms of safety. As a starting spot, outfit your home with a comprehensive alert system:
- Make sure your home has enough smoke alarms: This should be one on each floor, plus one outside of every sleep area.
- Test all of your smoke alarms at least once a month, and replace their batteries at least once per year.
- Make sure your children know what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do if it sounds.
- Because fires are accompanied by carbon monoxide, also install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home - preferably near sleeping areas.
- In case someone in your home is hard of hearing, install smoke alarms that couple noise with flashing lights and vibrations.
Create an Escape Plan
If a smoke alarm sounds, will you and your children know what to do? Instead of assuming all will fall in line or quickly run outdoors, develop a plan touching on tools, escape routes and where you'll meet:
- Make sure you and all family members have two escape routes for every room of your home.
- Create a designated meeting place outside of your home.
- Run practice drills at least twice per year, and time how long everyone takes to leave and reach your designated spot.
- Teach your children how to Stop, Drop and Roll, should their clothes catch on fire.
- Make sure all essential documents, including birth certificates, insurance documentation and passports, are kept in a fire-resistant, easy-to-grab container.
Manage Flammable and Combustible Materials
Heat plus a flammable or combustible material results in a rapidly spreading disaster. To prevent a fire before it starts:
- Store flammable and combustible materials at least three feet away from anything that generates heat or has an open flame.
- Combustible materials need to be kept in open areas away from heat sources.
- Rags used for applying household chemicals need to be stored in a tightly closed metal container.
- Store gasoline in an approved container, placing it inside a shed or garage outside of your home.
- If a container holds a flammable liquid, make sure you fully close and seal the lid after use.
Watch Where You Smoke
Did you know that 40% of smoking-related fires start in the bedroom? In many cases, the incident goes back to falling asleep with a lit cigarette and having the ashes fall onto the sheets or mattress below - both of which are made with combustible materials. Aside from quitting, you lower your risks for a smoking-related house fire if you:
- Smoke fire-safe cigarettes.
- Extinguish your cigarettes in a deeper ashtray or in water.
- Avoid smoking in bed.
- Only smoke outdoors - a must if someone in your home uses an oxygen tank.
- Avoid smoking after taking drugs, drinking alcohol or using a medication that makes you drowsy.
Control and Maintain Heat Sources
Most homes contain multiple fire sources, from the oven to lighters or a fireplace. To mitigate related risks:
- Get your furnace serviced at least once per year to prevent overheating and gas leaks.
- Have your chimney cleaned once per year to remove creosote buildup.
- If you use a kerosene heater, only refill it once it cools and does so outdoors.
- Always turn portable and space heaters off before you go to bed.
- Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, ideally in a locked container.
- During a power outage, make sure you use a flashlight, rather than light a candle, and make sure you have a backup set of batteries for emergencies.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it on an even surface away from pets and children.
- Make sure every level of your home has a fully tested and ready ABC-rated fire extinguisher.
Pay Attention to Wiring and Appliances
Electrical systems can quite literally spark a fire. To address related concerns:
- Get your home's electrical system inspected periodically.
- Avoid using damaged extension cords.
- Watch how many devices, extension cords and appliances you plug into a single outlet.
- Never leave wires exposed throughout your home.
- Make sure wiring doesn't pass underneath a rug or another textile, and avoid tacking it up with nails.
- Keep wires and cords away from where people walk.
- Always make sure your outlets have a full, properly fitting and attached plate.
- Service your appliances, from ovens and refrigerators to televisions, computers and air conditioners, to make sure they're not overheating.
Watch Out for Kitchen and Cooking Fires
From the oven to the outdoor grill, cooking involves heat and, therefore, is a frequent source of house fires. To stop a fire before it starts:
- Always stay in the kitchen or outdoors by the grill as you're cooking.
- Keep children and pets away from cooking surfaces.
- Keep flammable materials, including curtains, bags and pot holders, away from cooking surfaces and sources of heat.
- If your food catches fire, put a lid over the flames first before turning off the burner. Keep the lid in place until it feels cool.
- Never pour water on a grease fire. Instead, use a Class B fire extinguisher to put out the flames.
- Never grill or fry food near shrubs, bushes or piles of combustible debris.
Reduce Fire Risks Through Home Maintenance
Long term, maintain your grounds and pay attention to the materials making up your home. Improvements include:
- Installing fire-resistant roofing, siding and insulation, all designed to slow the spread of flames when a fire occurs.
- Keeping bushes, scrubs and low-hanging tree branches away from your home.
- Watching where you use fire pits; instead, keep them away from your home and from vegetation.
- Moving flammable debris, including piles of leaves or dead branches, away from your home and any outside structures.
Turn to Fire Safety USA to Protect Your Home
From fire extinguishers and other suppression systems to gloves and flashlights, find the gear you need to respond and keep both your dwelling and family safe. Browse now, or contact our customer care team to learn more.