There are certain things that are unpleasant to think about. People don't want to dwell on negative things, and that's perfectly reasonable. But sometimes, it's necessary to give proper thought to potentially disastrous scenarios in order to prevent them from becoming real. Fire safety is often one such issue. A normal person doesn't want to picture their home burning down, or their family getting hurt. But sadly, some people don't put enough thought into fire safety until it's too late. A reasonable amount of planning could prevent disaster in the future.
Every year, over a thousand people die from fires or related causes. The saddest part is that many of these deaths could be avoided through proper planning and precautions. One of the best ways to create preparedness is to have a set route in mind that will make it easier to escape during a fire. Make sure you plan the route with everyone in the house, so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Most fire escape routes involve having a path through the furniture and potential tripping hazards. For the upper floors of the house, having a portable ladder easily accessible can provide a quick path to ground level if the stairs become unusable. Once it's all planned out, have it practiced a few times. Once everyone knows how they're going to get out of the house, plan where you are all going to meet up, such a neighbor's home or other nearby, easy-to-find area.
The safety of your family should be the top priority, of course, but you don't want to lose your home and everything in if you don't have to. To help with that, you might want to make notes of the fire prevention systems already in place. Fire alarms in each main area are a must, but there are other systems that can be installed to help stop a fire before it gets out of hand. A sprinkler system that can detect and snuff out fires is actually relatively inexpensive to have retrofitted into most homes. Many news homes are built with them, or at least have the option.
The next highest item on the fire safety checklist is the fire extinguisher. You don't want to be have the entire room drenched by sprinklers every time something small goes up in smoke. For minor situations, a fire extinguisher can be used to quickly put them out with minimal damage. You might want to place them in easy-to-reach areas on each floor, such as in the kitchen, where house fires are commonly started.
Of course, the best way to fight fires is to prevent them in the first place. Simple steps can be taken to minimize the risk of accidental fires. Many people love having candles in their home, and for good reason, but negligence around candles is one of the most common sources of house fires. Be sure to never leave them where they can be knocked over easily, and make sure the wick is about one quarter of an inch in length.
Finally, make sure that combustible materials and chemicals are placed where they won't be near ignition sources. Also, be sure to check the containers for leaks, and make sure the chemicals are stored at the proper temperatures.
While it's not always easy to take proper fire safety measures, you will never regret the extra security it brings to you and your family.
Every year, over a thousand people die from fires or related causes. The saddest part is that many of these deaths could be avoided through proper planning and precautions. One of the best ways to create preparedness is to have a set route in mind that will make it easier to escape during a fire. Make sure you plan the route with everyone in the house, so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Most fire escape routes involve having a path through the furniture and potential tripping hazards. For the upper floors of the house, having a portable ladder easily accessible can provide a quick path to ground level if the stairs become unusable. Once it's all planned out, have it practiced a few times. Once everyone knows how they're going to get out of the house, plan where you are all going to meet up, such a neighbor's home or other nearby, easy-to-find area.
The safety of your family should be the top priority, of course, but you don't want to lose your home and everything in if you don't have to. To help with that, you might want to make notes of the fire prevention systems already in place. Fire alarms in each main area are a must, but there are other systems that can be installed to help stop a fire before it gets out of hand. A sprinkler system that can detect and snuff out fires is actually relatively inexpensive to have retrofitted into most homes. Many news homes are built with them, or at least have the option.
The next highest item on the fire safety checklist is the fire extinguisher. You don't want to be have the entire room drenched by sprinklers every time something small goes up in smoke. For minor situations, a fire extinguisher can be used to quickly put them out with minimal damage. You might want to place them in easy-to-reach areas on each floor, such as in the kitchen, where house fires are commonly started.
Of course, the best way to fight fires is to prevent them in the first place. Simple steps can be taken to minimize the risk of accidental fires. Many people love having candles in their home, and for good reason, but negligence around candles is one of the most common sources of house fires. Be sure to never leave them where they can be knocked over easily, and make sure the wick is about one quarter of an inch in length.
Finally, make sure that combustible materials and chemicals are placed where they won't be near ignition sources. Also, be sure to check the containers for leaks, and make sure the chemicals are stored at the proper temperatures.
While it's not always easy to take proper fire safety measures, you will never regret the extra security it brings to you and your family.
About the Author:
Having the knowledge that your family and home are safe can make you rest easy at night, especially when you have the home you'd always dreamed of. Timbercraft Homes builds new homes in Oklahoma City, and would love to put you in the home of your dreams.