.You never know when an accident such as a house fire will occur. It’s so important to take the time to prepare your home and family for these types of circumstances. Here are some tips to check out to make sure your family is on the right track towards being prepared for a fire.
Look through your home for fire hazards
Start your fire safety preparation by going through your home and looking for any items that could potentially start a fire. Keep any matches, lighters, or other fire-starting products up high where small children can’t get to them. If you have older children, now is the perfect time to teach them how to properly use these items. Get rid of any electrical wires that are exposed or unsafe for use. Keep areas neat and clear where a fire could start, such as by the stove. It’s good practice to go through your home every couple weeks to make sure there are no fire hazards present.
Have items on hand to prevent fires
Items you should have in your home to prevent fires include smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets. Keep at least one of these on each floor of the house for easy access. Teach each person in your family how these items protect the home from fires. For any family members that are old enough to use them on their own, show them how it should be done. Test them a few times a year so you’ll never be without them. Keep an eye on accounts like SimpliSafe’s Twitter page to make sure you always have these items updated and your home is always as safe as can be.
Teach children how to use cooking appliances correctly
Your children are most likely to use cooking appliances over any other items in the house that could start a fire. Take some time to go over each kitchen appliance with your children. This way when they use them on their own, you’ll know that they can safely cook their own food.
Create a fire escape plan
This step will likely take the most time, but it’s so important to have concrete plans that each person in your family is aware of in the case that a fire happens. Begin by mapping out your home and finding two escape routes from each room. Write these down so that everyone in your family can review the routes whenever they’d like. For any rooms on the second floor, it’s a good idea to get fire ladders. This way the only way out isn’t through the door. With your escape routes in place, you’ll need a plan for what your family does once you’re all outside of the house. Designate a meeting place a safe distance away from the home. Once everyone is accounted for, call for help. Hold a random fire drill a couple times a year to make sure all of your family members remember your plan.
Learn what to do if there is a fire
Creating an escape plan is one thing, but actually knowing how to deal with fire is another. Once your escape plan is in place, go over how to avoid getting injured by the fire with your family. Tips you should go over include staying low under smoke, staying outside once you escape, and stop, drop, and rolling if your clothes caught fire.
What are some ways you keep your family safe from house fires?