Fire Safety Tips For Your Home

Safety Tip 1: Don’t leave anything on your stove unattended, especially with the fire still going. Even if you hold the world record for the quickest sprint to the toilet and back, you’re taking an unnecessary risk. Turn off the stove if you have to step away from it. Flammable items should also be kept away from the stove at all times. This includes dish towels, curtains, plastic bags, etc.

Safety Tip 2: Don’t use electrical appliances that are faulty. Of course, sometimes appliances could be faulty without us knowing it, such as in my past experience. Check them periodically. Look out for electrical cords that are frayed or damaged. When leaving the house, make sure that all appliances are turned off. Better still, they should be unplugged. Another important tip is to not overload electrical outlets. Some appliances use more juice than others.

Safety Tip 3: Keep children away from anything that can start a fire. Children are a potential cause of accidental fires in the home, mostly because of their curiosity. Matches, lighters and flammable liquids should be kept out of their reach or under lock and key.

Safety Tip 4: Be careful when tossing away cigarette butts. Make sure the butts are no longer warm before throwing them away. The same goes for candles. If you’re going to leave the room, put out all the candles, including those that you lit to impress that new someone in your life.

Safety Tip 5: Keep fire extinguishers in your home. Fire extinguishers also need to be checked periodically to ensure they’re functioning. Did you also know that there are different types of fire extinguishers and they put out different types of fires? There are water-based extinguishers which are handy for fires started by general combustible materials. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are useful for fires started by flammable materials and electrical appliances. So, know your extinguishers. But more importantly, make sure everyone living in the home know where the fire extinguisher is kept!

Safety Tip 6: Plan your escape beforehand. Just because you live in a house doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to run out the front door in the event of a fire. What if it’s blocked? Plan an escape route. If you live in condominium or apartment buildings, know where all the fire exits are.