According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), house fires caused $14.8 billion in property loss and 3,700 deaths in 2019. Every home is vulnerable to fire, so it’s important to implement safety measures to reduce the risk of an incident. Here are tips for fire safety in the home.
Practical Fire Safety Tips for the Home
Install Fire Extinguishers
Check your home to make sure you have fire extinguishers in easily accessible areas. It’s recommended that you have at least one device on each level of your house. Keep an extinguisher in the basement and garage as well. Place the fire extinguisher at reasonable heights on the walls for easy accessibility, but out of reach of children.
Make sure everyone knows how to use the fire extinguishers so that your family members can confidently use the device should there be a fire in your home.
Check Electrical Safety
Several things can cause electrical fires in your home, including outdated appliances and malfunctioning electrical outlets. Order an electrical safety inspection to assure everything is in good shape and functioning correctly. If any electrical outlets are faulty or in bad condition, have them replaced by a professional electrician.
Smoke or a burning smell from an electrical outlet is a sign of a problem. Loose outlet connections could cause damage to the wiring and problems with your electrical system. Repair issues right away before they escalate to something more serious. Sparks or a popping sound from any of the electrical outlets are also signs of danger. Turn off the power source immediately and call an electrician to fix the issue.
Install Smoke Detectors to Improve Fire Safety in the Home
Smoke detectors can save lives. The NFPA reports that about 3 out of 5 residential fire fatalities occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. Smoke alarms provide an early warning and the opportunity to act quickly before the fire spreads. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, the hallway outside the bedrooms, common areas, the garage, and the basement and attic. Test your detectors once each month to verify they are working properly.
Have an Escape Plan
If a fire breaks in your home, you only have about two minutes to exit the house. Because of this, it’s important to make a fire escape plan and be sure that every family member knows the plan. Come up with at least two ways to escape each room and designate a meeting point outside that’s a safe distance from your home.
Catawba Island Home Inspections provides inspections to customers in Northwest Ohio. Contact us to schedule our services.