Home Fire Preparedness: Safety Tips to Remember 

A firefighter is battling a fire at a house, demonstrating home fire preparedness.

Nothing beats the comfort one feels in their home. Seeing all the things you have worked hard for gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes it all worth it. And as much as all these bring joy, losing them to a disaster like fire can be devastating. There are several causes of fire and some are mundane things that you use daily. Fortunately, there is something you can do to make sure you keep your home safe from fire. There are measures you can take to keep yourself, your family, and possessions safe. 

Home Fire Prevention Tips

The best way to protect yourself from the distressing aftermath of a fire is prevention. You can only do this with preventive measures and by equipping yourself with the right knowledge. To give you a headstart, here are some timely tips that you can start with. 

Measures to Take Now

  • It is important to make it a habit to check fire precautions of all the things you bring in your home. Once you determine their combustibility, you can then set them apart and provide ample reminders to keep them at least three feet away from items that get hot.
  • If you are in a household with kids, it is important to tell them the dangers of fire. This includes education on what things make fire and why they should not play with it. It is good to specifically enumerate items such as matches, lighters, and more. 
  • Always keep portable heaters off when not in use. When cooking, do not leave an open stove unattended. Keep items that can catch fire away from the stove as flames can accidentally reach them. 
  • Install fire alarms in your home. After installation, make a monthly routine checkup for its efficacy. Educate everyone about how the smoke alarm works and how it sounds. Replace them every 10 years for best practices. 
  • Carbon monoxide alarms work too. It is important to educate everyone about how it works and have everyone know that in case it alarms, it is essential to move to a location with fresh air. 
  • Avoid using gasoline, natural gas, propane, or charcoal-burning devices in your home, garage, basement, or any partially enclosed area. This includes camp stoves, generators, and grills. 
  • Make sure to have everyone know and memorize emergency services in case a fire breaks out. Create a fire escape plan and learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Only use a fire extinguisher for fires that aren’t growing and are in a small area. You can use it if the room is not filled with smoke and when the fire department has been notified. 

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

  1. Pull the pin and aim the nozzle away from you. 
  2. Always aim low and target the base of the fire. 
  3. Make sure to squeeze on the nozzle evenyl and slowly.
  4. Sweep the nozzle in a side to side manner. 

Fire Escape Planning

  • Every household should have a fire escape plan prepared. This means knowing different routes to take in case a fire breaks out. Everyone in the home should know where to meet in case of a fire. 
  • Practice doing a fire escape drill every two years at different times within the day to check how everyone responds. It is also important to let everyone know that in case they catch their clothes on fire, they should stop, drop, and roll. 

What to Do in a Fire

  • The first thing to do is to get out of the premises and call emergency fire services. 
  • If you encounter door handles that are hot, find another route to get out. 
  • When there is an overwhelming amount of smoke in the area, go down on your knees and crawl yourself out. 
  • Watch out for falling debris and objects. 
  • In case all your exit routes are blocked, use a wet towel to block the seams under the door. Open a window and put anything bright or flashy to attract attention. If available, you can use a flashlight to signal a call for help.
  • Use a fire extinguisher to deal with manageable fires. 

Post-Fire Reminders

  1. Once you find a safe place to stay, you can start calling your insurance agent. Ask for assistance in filing a claim. 
  2. At this point, your home may have lost seals and locks in entry points or roof and other walls have collapsed. Protect your home for unlawful entry or environmental hazards. 
  3. Take your possessions if still available. It may be tempting to salvage items after a fire, but it is critical that you call experts in fire damage services to help. They can help you determine which ones are worth saving and those that need replacement. 

The Takeaway

Though preventable, fires can happen anytime of the day. Hence, making sure that your household knows how to prevent fire and deal with it when it happens is vital. The aftermath of fire can be stressful and altogether dangerous. So, if you find yourself clueless about what to do after a fire, make sure to have professionals in fire damage restoration for your safety and peace of mind. 

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