How safe is your home? Do you really take fire prevention seriously or do you think it couldn’t’ happen to you? My grandfather was a fireman so I know firsthand how very real house fires are and how easy it is to prevent one and be prepared should one happen.
*Change your smoke detector batteries twice a year. I use daylight savings as my reminder but you could use any two dates that you will remember, set up a reminder on your calendar.
*Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and the garage. Replace every few years, they are not very expensive.
*Do not overload extension cords at Christmas or any other time of the year. Also make sure the cords on your appliances are in good shape, it they are not replace the cord or the appliance, electrical tape wrapped around a cord is not a permanent solution. Also, unplug appliance that are not in use the further reduce the chance of an appliance fire.
*40% of all house fires are cooking related. Never leave a stove unattended, make sure that curtains and kitchen towels are kept a safe distance from the stove top.
*Kids playing with fire is another leading cause of house fires. Kids are going to be curious, make sure all lighters, matches and the like are stored safely out of their reach.
*Make sure your dryer vent is clear of obstructions and that there isn’t anything, like dryer sheets or lint, allowed to build up around the dryer possibly coming into contact with the heating element and starting a fire.
*Have your furnace serviced regularly. Do not store things close to the furnace or hot water heater.
*Fireplaces should never be left unattended and your chimney should be cleaned regularly to prevent creosote buildup.
*Candles are romantic and they smell good too but are a fire hazard. Use a candle warmer instead of a flame, especially if you have small children or animals that might bump a candle and knock it over.
*Make sure you have an emergency plan in place and practice it. Dicuss two escape routes from each room of the house and a meeting place outside. Tell your children to never go back into a burning house.
The best way to prevent a fire is to be diligent about safety. Perform regular home maintenance checks on anything that has the ability to start a fire and keep those smoke detectors in working order.