The Means to Protect Your Home from Fire Home Improvement Home Security by Diana Smith - March 30, 2016 The Means to Protect Your Home from Fire The modern world has brought all this technical innovations to us, but also a heightened level of fire hazard. Sometimes a 2 second escape window is all the time we have to leave the home that caught on fire. The most efficient protective measure is to locate it and extinguish it promptly. Over 50% of fire caused deaths occur in households without properly working alarms. Precisely alarms, paired up with strategically planned escape route can be a life-saving factor. Image – http://www.ake.com/ Safety advice Firstly, gather all the people living in your home and present a fire escape route. Simulate it twice a year to confirm everything is in order. Secondly, replace the batteries on fire alarms if needed during recommended monthly checkup tests. In the end, if the fire breaks out, move out quickly, stay there and call the fire brigade. Preparation and Prevention – Viable Actions To begin with, don’t keep anything flammable nearer than 3ft from heat sources. If at all possible, abstain from smoking in bed, and turn off the portable heaters before going to sleep. Make sure your kids are also well acquainted with dangerous properties of fire and its sources (lighters, matches, etc.) and arrange it’s inaccessible to them. Watch a DVD and introduce educational games that deal with this subject. Image – disasterrestorationinfo.com/ Smoke Alarms All levels of the house should be equipped with smoke alarm mechanisms, the sleeping and other areas alike. Instruct the children about the sound of this aperture and what it means (could be low battery indicators too). As previously mentioned, test them regularly and ensure charged batteries. These alarms have a 10 years life span, so get a new one after that passes. Whatever you do, do not disable any of the fire related alarms, carbon monoxide or regular smoke alarm either. These two are not to be interchanged function wise. Devising fire escape plan It’s vital that you practice the escape procedure at varying times of the day. This involves simulation of being woken up by fire, crawling manoeuver and outside gathering. All residents should be able to know the emergency numbers by heart. Stop, drop and roll is the procedure to learn for cases of burning garments. Cooking hazards Grilling, frying and similar high heat methods require our constant presence in the kitchen. Otherwise, turn off the cooking device if you need to leave the room for a while. Staying on the home premises is a must if you’re baking, roasting, simmering or boiling some food. Schedule regular inspections (I use my phone alarm) and exploit timers as well. Store the inflammable objects such as towels, plastic and cloths at safe distance from the burner. Teach your pets proper kitchen behavior or disallow their presence in the cooking area. Image – http://nashvillepremierehomes.com Carbon Monoxide Leakage Set up an alarm for this deadly, odourless gas at every central spot in the house, including all interior levels and outside-the-house garden enclosures with stoves. In case this alarms rings (the sound differs from smoke alarm type), swiftly retreat to outdoor fresh air or open wide a door or a window. Fire Escape Step by Step If an edifice catches on fire, leave the house, stay there and call emergency numbers Never open a heated door handle as the pressure may lead to explosions and seek an alternative exit Crawl beneath the smoke Reach the meeting spot and notify the fire department Extras: if your routes are blocked by flames or heat, remain in the quarters with closed doors. Put a moist towel under the door and call the emergency line. Open the window panels and exploit bright coloured clothes or torches to signal you’re in danger. Image – http://www.washingtonfire.org/ Take Precaution with Extinguishers To use the fire extinguisher you need be a licensed user and only when: The fire is not spreading and it’s relatively small in diameter The interior is not full of smoke No one else is in the house Fire brigade is on their way PASS and correct handling of the extinguisher When learning about fire safety protocols, this will certainly be helpful: P – Pull the pin and grip to the extinguisher, nozzle pointing outwards A – Aim lower at the source of the fire S – Squeeze the lever evenly and slowly S – Sweep from side to side with nozzle Protecting your home from fire is no joke. Take detailed notes and make sure to get first-hand information from the local fire department.