Tips to Improve Home Fire Safety

You home is your most important place as it is where you come to rest and spend time with your family after the day’s hustle. Knowing this makes the thought of your home catching fire distressing and terrifying. This means it is unwise to take chances by exposing your home to fire risk. If you have not put in place measures to protect your home from fire occurrence then you, your loved ones, and your properties are not safe. More people die in fire every year while numerous properties are destroyed as a result of fire accidents. The deaths of most people in home fire are due to taking in the poisonous gases caused by fire. While you might not be able to control everything, there are things you can do to help prevent the possibility of a house fire. This article provides you with tips to increase fire safety in your home.
Practice Kitchen Safety
Do you know that most home fires originate from kitchens? This is because the room’s most activities involve using fire sources and gadgets. Cooking requires gas, stove, or electrical power all which is possible causes of home fire breakout. This means that you should be attentive when using the kitchen since a single mistake can lead to fire disaster. Never leave your cooking unattended for whatever reason. It is wise to have someone one look after your kitchen if you must leave. Children should also not be allowed to be in the kitchen alone.
Inspect Your Heating Sources
Heating sources including portable heaters and fireplace are another major fire risk. House fires can be easily triggered if the heating sources are in bad condition. To protect your household from the risk of fire, inspect your heating sources and make sure they are working perfectly. Always clean out your air conditioning filters, keep heaters away from flammable things and let a professional check your HAVC once every year. Make sure your heaters are off when you go to bed or leave the room. You can also install fireguards around open fireplaces to prevent children and pets from accessing them.
Maintain Wiring
When building a house, most countries have laws and regulations that determine the standards of electrical connections. However, some still fail to follow the regulation and this exposes them to the risk of fire. Poor wiring can cause fire outbreak and cause property damage and loss of lives. Damaged wires are the greatest fire hazards and must be replaced as soon as noted. You should also know that wire can get hot during usage. Prevent this by replacing wires as soon as you identify a problem. Don’t pass wires below carpets as they can easily catch fire. Your home appliances wires should also be in good condition. Don’t leave your objects unplugged when going to bed or leaving your home.
Store Flammable Items Safely
House hold item like cleaners, shaving cream, fuels and hair sprays can be very flammable when kept close to strong heat source. To minimize the risks, ensure they are stored in a cool and well-ventilated area. Make sure that flammable liquids are stored away from heat sources.
Install a Fire Detection System
When a fire is not detected early, it causes severe damage including property destruction and loss of life. While your premise might be equipped with fire alarms and fire extinguishers, asset damage is almost inevitable after the fire starts. To be safer, install fire detection systems in your home. They help in providing an early warning and allowing you to take necessary steps to prevent fire spread. With the help of infrared cameras, detection systems can detect fire in its early stages by seeing the hot spots and provide temperature updates immediately even before smoke particles and flames. The fire detection systems protect your property and loved ones by detecting fire early and alerting the authorities for quick response.
Educate Your Household on Fire Safety
The whole household should be knowledgeable about fire safety whether they are children or adults. Educate them about the primary causes of fire and how they can be prevented. Let them know how a fire alarm is used and the right time to use it. It is significant to involve the young ones in fire discussions and drills as this does not only enhance their safety but also of the whole household.
Be Cautious With Open Flames
We know how it feels nice to have open flames lighting up your home. For instance, lighting candles can create a romantic atmosphere while a fire place can make your home feel toastier during the cold season. For safety purposes we won’t tell you to avoid candles and fireplaces due to the special feeling they provide. However, you should be cautious with open flames for safety purposes. Avoid dosing off when candles are on by putting them off immediately you feel sleepy. You should also keep your pets and children away from open fire places by placing fire guards.
Develop a Fire Escape Plan
When building or buying a home, ask yourself if your family can move out in under two minutes in case of an accident. This is because a fire breakout is dangerous and can explode in less than two minutes. Your fire escape plan should include;
- Having at least two exit routes in every room in case one blocks
- Having a safe meeting location outside your home
- Keeping exits clear of clutter
- Teaching children how to unlock windows and doors
The more prepared your family is, the more they are safe because they can react appropriately in an emergency and keep your home safe from fire.
In conclusion, home fire is harmful as it does not only destroy properties but also causes loss of lives. Knowing the damage fire can cause, it is wise be cautious and implement fire prevention measures. Protecting your household from fire is not a one person job but rather everybody’s including the children. While educating your family about fire safety, make sure the necessary measures like installation of fire detection alarms, cameras and extinguishers are in place. Additionally, be careful in your home practices, especially those involving fire like cooking. Your home wiring should also be on point because faulty wiring can be dangerous.