Reducing the Risk of Fire in the Home
Becoming familiar with home fire safety guidelines is the best way to keep your family and property safe and prevent fire from happening in the first place. Here are some practical tips you can follow.
Keep an Eye on Burning Candles
Every year thousands of house fires are caused by candles. More than half of these fires occur when candles are placed too close to combustible materials. If you enjoy using candles in your home, here are several safety tips to follow that will reduce the chances of a fire breaking out.
- Purchase stable candleholders made of metal or glass that won’t tip over.
- Put the candles out when you go to bed or leave the room.
- Do not place candles near combustible items such as curtains, paper, clothing, and bedding.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Using battery-operated lights is much safer than candles, especially during a power outage.
- If you have kids or pets, keep burning candles out of their reach.
Install Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers for Home Fire Safety
Smoke alarms save lives in the event of a fire. They detect the presence of a fire before it escalates, giving you enough time to either extinguish the flames or escape. For best results, place smoke alarms throughout your house, especially in bedrooms, the kitchen, and the garage.
Test the detectors regularly to make sure they function correctly and replace the batteries at least twice a year. Smoke alarms are affordable and can be purchased at hardware stores and online.
Be Alert When Cooking
Supervise cooking appliances when they are in use. Wooden decks can catch fire when grilling, so exercise extreme caution during your backyard barbeque and keep a fire extinguisher within reach. When preparing food, keep children and pets away from the kitchen area.
Create Fire Escape Plans for Home Fire Safety
Fire escape plans play an important role in fire safety. The plan should include multiple escape routes and equipment such as ladders to exit upper story windows for it to be effective.
Make sure all family members are familiar with how to get out of the building and the sound of the alarms. When creating an escape plan, consider family members with disabilities to guarantee a smooth exit if a fire occurs.
Avoid Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are caused by faulty wiring or defective electrical appliances. When using or charging electrical equipment, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take care not to overload an outlet with too many devices.
The above tips will help you gain a basic understanding of fire safety for your home. It is important that you practice these guidelines and create an escape plan that you and your family can use.
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