Protect Your Home from Fire with These 10 Tips
Fire accidents are on the rise as recently, hence it’s vital to take measures to protect your home from fire hazards. Read the tips below.
30/08/2022
According to the National Fire Protection
Association report in 2019, an alarming 361,500
residential fires were reported with the loss of
3,700 civilian lives and leaving an additional
16,600 civilians injured.
These aren't
just numbers, but many innocent lives lost to a
brutal accident. In fact, since 2009, fire
deaths have seen a tragically upward trend with
the risk increasing based on living conditions.
For instance, there are seven states
including West Virginia, Alaska, and Arkansas
that has the highest rate of fire deaths.
Moreover, significant financial losses are
incurred from the loss of property from most
fire accidents. Fortunately, this tragedy isn't
entirely unavoidable and there are many ways to
reduce the risks of fire hazards.
1. Installing Smoke Detectors
This should be an essential part of every
household. The early warnings devised in a smoke
detector provide ample time for you and your
family to escape and avert any potential
accidents.
Ideally, they should be
placed on every level of your home as well as
inside and outside every sleeping room. Install
one in the kitchen preferably 10 feet from any
appliances to prevent false alarms. You will
also benefit from placing the alarms that detect
carbon monoxide especially if you have a wood
stove or fireplace.
Remember to check
the alarm function periodically to check if they
are working. You should also change the
batteries during daylight savings time. Ensure
that the alarms are free from cobwebs and dust.
Finally, replace alarms once every 10 years.
2. Install Fire Extinguishers & Fire Ladders
Another vital addition to every level of the
house including the garage, basement, and
kitchen. Ensure that they are out of reach of
children. Every family member should also be
familiar with how a fire extinguisher works. It
is best to stick to one manufacturer because
different models operate differently.
For multi-story homes, it is safe to install two
ladders in case one room is inaccessible due to
the fire.
3. Use Fire Safety Products
The ideal way to protect against fires is to
have fire safety products that can prevent fires
as well as reduce damage in the incident of one.
One such practice is to use proper
insulation. There are many
insulation types each
serving a different function. However,
fundamentally they serve to ensure a steady room
temperature and resist heat flow.
Another piece of equipment is the fire
blanket which should ideally be in the kitchen
which has the highest risk of fires. It is also
important to have a fire hose in addition to an
extinguisher.
4. Watch Your Appliances
Unbeknownst to most, daily use appliances
like washing machines and stoves pose a
significant fire hazard. And given that most
appliances are in the kitchen, it is most often
the start point of house fires.
Always
keep the stove,
microwave, and hot plates away
from items like curtains, chemicals, and other
flammable materials. Moreover, never leave a
fire unattended.
Small fires can be
extinguished with salt and baking soda (don't
use water). Cover the fire with a metal lid and
turn off the source. Call emergency services and
leave the house for a fire beyond your control.
5. Unplug Items You’re Not Using
Even when devices like laptops, PCs, and
gaming consoles are turned off, electricity
passes through them. Therefore, a fire can result
from overheating or a sudden surge of power.
By unplugging them, you cut off the
electricity flow reducing the risk of fire. Turn
off heater appliances when leaving the house,
and practice this religiously to prevent fire
accidents.
6. Check The Furnace
Similar to cigarettes, fires should be put
out entirely before leaving fireplaces. The
embers can still be a source of fire. Schedule
regular appointments with a professional to get
your furnace checked.
Regularly cleaning
the chimney during the hottest months to reduce
the risk of a house fire during winter. A
fireplace screen is also a good investment which
keeps the burning embers from popping into the
room and hurting children or pets.
Always keep flammable items at least 3 feet away
from the fireplace. Lastly, a fire extinguisher
should be placed close by in case of a fire.
7. Measure CO levels
Most deaths during fires occur due to
inhalation of smoke and carbon monoxide rather
than the fire itself. This odorless, colorless
gas is a silent killer.
Whether you use
coal, heating oil, gasoline, or natural gas, all
of these release carbon monoxide on burning. As
a result, it is safer to buy a dual sensor for
smoke and carbon monoxide to save you from
potentially fatal consequences.
8. Don't smoke inside
Though this is a given, you would be
surprised how many fires start from cigarette
butts in the trash cans that haven't been put
out completely.
Always smoke in well
ventilated and put cigarettes out entirely to
reduce the risk of asphyxia and fires.
9. Know The Drill
You need to be able to map an escape plan as well as what measures to take in the event of a fire. A yearly fire drill that includes the children to participate is a wise idea. Teach the children regarding fire safety and ensure that they know the drill during a fire.
10. Be Extra Careful During Holidays
Holidays, especially Christmas and
Thanksgiving have the highest incidence of
residential fires. So, you need to implement
extra measures to avoid accidents.
Thanksgiving is all about food, including the
mandatory turkey. Frying foods always poses a
fire hazard and if you are using a turkey fryer
then the risk is greater given the unstable
stand coupled with large amounts of boiling oil
required for frying.
This is why they
must always be used outdoors. Never use frozen
or partially thawed turkey directly into the
fryer otherwise it may explode and start a fire.
Christmas brings another holiday
accident hazard with Christmas trees. They are
highly flammable given their sap content. You
will also need to ensure that they don’t dry out
as that causes fire to catch fire even more
quickly.
Finally, lighting around the
holiday season can also be dangerous. Always
make sure that you don’t over plug the socket
with more than three lights to avoid
overheating. Moreover, replace any damaged
lights and avoid using metal nails or screws to
hang the lights. Better yet, switch to LED
lights, when possible, which are much safer than
light bulbs.
Conclusion
Fire prevention is an important basic knowledge that should be known to everyone for their own protection and that of their family. These tips were compiled to give an overview in order to drastically reduce the risk of a fire, so you don’t have to worry about an accident all the time.