DID YOU KNOW that U.S. Fire Departments respond to calls on home fires every 23 seconds according to the National Fire Protection Association? National Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15, 2022) serves as a good reminder that there’s never a bad time to review fire safety tips with your family and make sure that you are practicing fire prevention in your home. Here are some proactive steps you can take to keep your home and family safe!
Have an Escape Plan in Place
Practicing fire safety at home involves understanding prevention practices, planning, and coaching. National Fire Prevention Week is a great time to remind everyone in your household about proper fire prevention as well as being prepared to react in case it happens. A home escape plan includes an outside meeting place in front of your home where everyone will meet upon exiting the home. Pick a stationary location in front of your home like a tree, mailbox or light post. Review your escape plans and practice fire drills to stay sharp on the planned safety routes.
Inspect your Fire Extinguisher
If you have a fire extinguisher at home, do a quick refresher on how to use it (or contact your local fire department for fire extinguisher training). Always know your fire extinguisher’s pressure by checking the pressure gauge that clearly indicates if pressure is too high or too low to fight fire safely. You will also want to check the working parts such as the can, hoses, and nozzle aren’t damaged, dented, or rusted. Keep in mind that fire extinguishers are only helpful for putting out small fires. For more information on fire extinguishers, check out this valuable link!
Check your Smoke Alarms
Don’t forget to make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries, and keep in mind that even if batteries aren’t low, they should be changed annually. In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, more than two of every five (43%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. Always be aware of the expiration date of your smoke alarm. Most smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years. Is your house missing these life-savers? More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present. Get alarms installed today and make sure they get installed in every bedroom as most home fire deaths occur during the night.
For additional resources, safety tips, and family activities, you can visit the NFPA’s website specifically dedicated to National Fire Prevention Week. If you are fired up about owning your own home, call us today!
