At this time of year it seems that every morning the news reports are about a fire and devastating injuries, and loss. Here are some tips and recommendations on fire prevention and what to do if one starts.
Check to see if your Heating system is functioning properly, free of leaks, and have it serviced annually. Use caution with space heaters, adhere to manufacturer recommendations and avoid using extension cords. If you are using a wood burning fire place or stove, have the chimneys cleaned and inspected regularly, use only seasoned hardwoods, install a protective mesh grate or glass shield that prevent sparks and logs from entering into the room. An unsupervised fire is dangerous.
Be careful around your electrical system. Avoid overloading circuits, and long extension cords, discard damaged extension cords and appliances. Insure that appliances have ample air circulation space to prevent overheating. Regularly clean your clothes dryer lint trap and venting. Lint build up is a fire waiting to happen.
In the kitchen avoid deep frying whenever possible, keep the Stove Vent Hood free of grease build up. Your Stove vent should be metal and exhaust outside your home, not into your attic. Every kitchen, basement and garage should have fully charged fire extinguishers readily available, insuring they are designed for multiple fire types. Never use water on an electrical or oil fire! Use an appropriate fire extinguisher, designed for organic, electrical and oil fires.
In many jurisdictions it’s the Law to have a working smoke detector on every level of your home. It’s also common sense. Even better is to have a Monitored smoke detector that can call for help in your absence. Make it a habit to change your smoke detector batteries twice a year, on the day you change to or from Daylight savings time. If in doubt about the age of smoke detector batteries…change them. The recommended maximum lifespan of a smoke detector is 10 years. Young children sleep soundly, so smoke detectors should be located in sleeping areas. The best smoke detectors are interconnected when one detects smoke all detectors are activated. The bottom line is that working smoke detectors save lives.
Prepare your family for the worst case scenario of a home fire. Have a fire escape plan, a designated meeting place outside of the home, and instruct children on how to call for help once outside of the home.
For increased Fire Protection talk to your Alarm Company about ultimate life safety solutions.