Fire Safety

Fire Safety

See additional articles on The ABCs of Fire Extinguishers and Choosing and Installing Smoke Detectors Part 1 and 2 for more information.

A fire can be devastating; perhaps even more so than a burglary. Luckily, you can be warned of a potential fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 1,000 people are killed every year in the United States and even more are hurt by burn accidents or electrical shock. Protect your house against fires is the best idea.

Develop a Family Plan

In case of a serious fire, don’t waste precious time trying to give instructions and save the house. Have your plan in place ahead of time so everyone knows what to do. The most important thing is to immediately evacuate and call the fire department from a cell phone or neighbor’s house. In order to make sure ever family member knows how to get out of the house quickly and safely, prepare and rehearse a fire emergency plan. Here are some ideas to include:

1)      Have an escape route.  Draw up a floor plan and identify at least two exits from every room. Teach your children that windows can be possible exits in case smoke or fire blocks a doorway. If a window can’t be opened, use a shoe or chair to break the glass and clear away any shards. You can also throw a blanket over the edge of the frame to protect yourself against any jagged edges. Post the route where a babysitter can see it.

2)      For upper-floor windows, determine if any have access to porches and if those porches are safe. For other high windows, install chain ladders. Be sure the ladders are non-combustible.

3)      Assign partners. Children and the elderly will need someone to help them out of the house.

4)      Determine a meeting place. Pick a place outside such as a tree where you will meet once outside. This way everyone can gather after evacuation and you will know if the house is vacant or someone is missing.

5)      Hold fire drills. Practice running through the drill in the evening so everyone knows exactly what to do. If you have a chain ladder make sure everyone knows how to use it.

6)      Close bedroom doors at night. Most fatal fires happen in rooms other than bedrooms. Closed doors can keep out harmful smoke and gas for some time. The closed door can slow the spread of the fire to the other rooms.

7)      If you smell smoke, crawl on hands and knees to the door, place back on hand on door. If the door feels cool, brace it with your shoulder, open cautiously and move hand across opening to determine how hot the air is. If the door feels warm, do not open it. Instead, use your secondary escape route.