Essential Fire Safety Tips Everyone Should Be Aware Of
They say home is where the heart is, don’t they? But it can also be full of fire hazards – unless you’re careful. Did you know that your family kitchen can be the most dangerous place in the house, for example? So, let’s look at that first and see how you can avoid any potential pitfalls…
They say home is where the heart is, don’t they? But it can also be full of fire hazards – unless you’re careful. Did you know that your family kitchen can be the most dangerous place in the house, for example?
So, let’s look at that first and see how you can avoid any potential pitfalls…
Our top tips
The most important points to remember are to:
- stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking on the stove top;
- check there are no items like curtains or towels close to flames;
- keep the area around your microwave clear;
- have a fire extinguisher on hand at all times – just in case;
- check your appliances regularly.
Other key fire hazards at home
Of course, it’s not just in the kitchen where you need to be careful – there are lots of hazards to look out for all around your home.
Smoke alarms
One point we just can’t state enough is the importance of installing and testing smoke alarms. Remember to change the batteries at least every six months – a great tip is to do this at the same time as you change your clocks.
Heating equipment
Heating appliances are a major cause of fire in the home but, sadly, the hazards can often get overlooked. Keep them away from flammable items, never plug more than one appliance into an outlet and keep portable gas generators outside and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
And, if you’ve got a fireplace, make sure your chimney is checked and cleaned by a professional once a year.
Electronics and outlets
All of your appliances and leads need to plug in somewhere, don’t they? But check if any outlet is overloaded or showing signs of wear and rearrange things so as many appliances as possible plug in individually. Using extension cords for distant objects is okay, but again try to ensure you don’t plug too many appliances into them at once.
Invest in a fire curtain
These are not just for industrial environments nowadays – many people now invest in a fire curtain for their home. They’re particularly useful if you’ve knocked through walls to enjoy more open plan living. And this type of curtain offers as much protection as a fire door would, should the worst ever happen.
They remain hidden within your ceiling until you need to use them – so they don’t look unsightly. And, as well as ensuring your family stay safe, they make your home fire regulation compliant. Which is important for your insurance.
Practice an escape plan
Despite taking every precaution possible, something may still go unexpectedly wrong, so you and your family should have a plan for what to do in an emergency.
Make sure everyone’s on the same page
There are some great resources available these days – even specialist advice on how to keep your kids safe from fire. So make sure everyone’s on the same page when it comes to fire safety – and you’ll enjoy many more happy times together, in your own stress free sanctuary.