In an average year, there is a house fire every minute and a half in the United States. That means there are over 350,000 house fires in our country every year. Are you and your family ready for a fire in your home? While there are a myriad of fire safety and prevention tips, three really stand out for me.
1. Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home fast. Some tips to consider when preparing include:
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- Find two ways to get out of each room in the event one way is blocked
- Make sure that windows are not stuck, and screens can be taken out quickly
- Practice your home fire escape plan at least twice each year, preferably in the dark or with your eyes closed
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2. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms
A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. Some tips to consider include:
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- Install both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or dual sensor alarms which contain both sensors
- Test the smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, both inside and outside of sleeping areas
- Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer specifications
- Never disable a smoke alarm – it can be a deadly mistake if you forget to re-enable it
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3. Buy Fire Extinguishers and Know How to Use Them
Not all fire extinguishers are created equal. In fact, there are fire extinguishers for three types of different fires, which makes purchasing them tricky. The best advice I have seen is to buy combination fire extinguishers for home protection as it is hard to predict what will be burning. I would look for a combination (ABC) fire extinguisher that has the highest rating for the three types of fires.
The next step is to ensure the fire extinguishers are placed in a convenient location, and in plain sight, to ensure your family doesn’t have to look for them when they need them most. Finally, you are going to want to learn how to use them, and remember the acronym P.A.S.S.:
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- Pull the pin, hold the extinguisher away from you, and release the locking mechanism
- Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side