Sunday, March 2, 2014

Keeping The Home Safe From Fires

Keeping The Home Safe From Fires

By Jed Veal


There are some things that people tend to neglect because they don't seem like pressing issues at the time. Unfortunately, some of those potential problems that seem like they have little chance of actually becoming a reality can actually have disastrous consequences if the proper precautions were not taken. Fire safety is often one of those issues, and while it is not the most appealing topic to discuss, it could very well save the lives of you and your family.

Many people tragically die in fires every year, and many of these deaths would have been avoidable if proper planning had taken place. A fire escape route is something that every family should develop to ensure that every member of the family knows what to do if a fire starts in the home. You can meet with the whole family to get the plan sorted out and imprinted in everyone's memory. You should have a planned route out of every room, particularly the ones that you use the most and are most likely to be if a fire starts. Observe the layout of each room, planning a route around the potential obstructions. Once you have a path decided, make sure you don't store anything in the way. Have the whole family practice the route several times, setting it firmly in mind. If you have a home with multiple floors, you will need a quick route down in case the stairs become unusable. In this case, you may need to install a ladder on the window, or at least have rope ladder nearby that can be quickly deployed. Once everyone is out, they should meet at a previously-decided location.

While looking over your home's fire-safety rating, you may consider have sprinklers put in. While water damage can be an issue, it's far easier to repair and deal with than a home that's burned to husk. Often times, lives and property end up being saved by fire sprinklers. Some new homes come pre-equipped with them, and if not, they are rather simple and relatively inexpensive to installed or retrofitted. Tied to the home's water system, they can be an invaluable asset in keeping your family safe from fires. Most manufacturers offer sprinkler systems for homes that won't look out of place with the decorating scheme.

While candles can be great for setting a mood with their appearance and scent, they are one of the more common sources of out-of-control fires. If you use candles, always keep it where it can be seen, but not where it can easily knocked over. Keep it out of reach from kids and animals. Make sure the wicks aren't too long either. About a quarter-inch is optimum.

No home should be without a fire extinguisher, one of the most important fire-safety tools you can possibly place in the house. Smaller fires can easily and quickly be snuffed out. One on each floor is a good choice, placed in areas where there can be reached quickly from most areas of the house, such as the hallway and kitchen walls. Cooking accidents might ignite small fires, so the kitchen is a good choice for an extinguisher.

Chemicals in cleaning products could be flammable as well as toxic, so keep them where children and animals won't be able to reach them. Check the product labels to be sure they're being stored in proper conditions.

Proper fire safety takes some time and effort, but implementing the proper precautions is essential to ensuring the safety of your family. It can also result in lowered insurance rates.




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