The daughter of a fireman, I was always taught that fire prevention and safety is one of the most important things to learn in life. Since I was little, my family practiced our escape plans and drills from every room and from different hours of the day – including in the middle of the night. While this training has, thankfully, never come in handy, I know the following tips to create a home exit strategy my dad shared with me will also help aid you and your family in the event of a fire.
Prevention
The first place to begin is always prevention, as fires do not typically start on their own. Follow the tips below for some preventative measures you can take today:
- Unplug all hot hair tools, even if they claim to “shut off after X amount of hours”. These systems can fail and, if left near a towel, can be dangerous.
- Have trouble remembering to blow out a candle? Invest in wall plug air fresheners or fake flame candles to create the same ambiance
- Dryer fires are one of the leading causes of home fires in the United States so we recommend having a company come once a year to clean out your dryer vent and ensure that the lint tray is cleaned every time laundry is done.
- Keep lighters, matches, and your flint and steel out of children’s hands and preferably in a locked cabinet
- Clean and do not leave bathroom fans on!
- This could cause attic fires
- Do not leave batteries plugged in overnight in the Garage
- Never use a self-clean option on your oven!
- This feature heats your oven up to very high temperatures in order to disintegrate everything in the oven. Not only could this destroy your oven, but it could start a fire
- Check all cords and promptly replace all cords with frayed or exposed wires
- If you smoke, do so responsibly. Ensure all embers are out and do not leave cigarettes or cigars unattended
- If you use a space heater, unplug it when not in use and never leave unattended
- Look for models that shut off automatically when tipped over!
- Treat your fireplace like a campfire and ensure all embers are fully out and drowned prior to leaving or sleeping
- In general, invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector. Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer with no odor or color and is created when carbon-containing fuels are burned incompletely. Some examples include furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces, wood and gas stoves, space heaters and ovens
- In the kitchen, keep all flammable objects away from the stove and never leave food on the stove or in the oven unattended for long periods of time
- Store a fire extinguisher in a cabinet away from the stove and oven but in a spot that can be accessed in five seconds or less
- Keep all flammable items at least 3 feet from fireplaces, space heaters or stoves
Plan
Creating a Fire Escape Plan for your household is the best way to ensure that all members are on the same page in the event of a fire. For younger family members, it is recommended a map of the house that marks doors and windows and a clear escape path be drawn up. The fire plan should include:
- A meeting spot once each member leaves the house
- Two ways to get out of each room in the event of a fire
- A plan for limited mobility members of the household
- How to handle pets during a fire
- The location of the key hook, to grab car keys, wallets, and other important items.
- We recommend using the Hang Up to not only hang your keys, but to stage protection around your home. Train all household members to use the Hang Up for easy emergency grab-and-go purposes
A good plan also needs to be practiced. Ensure younger family members know what a fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector sounds like and know what to do when they are set off. In the event of a real fire, you will want to stay low and, if large amounts of smoke are present, cover your nose and mouth with a cloth as the toxic fumes could cause dizziness and possibly unconsciousness. Once a family member leaves the house, there should be no running back in. Remember that inanimate objects are not worth your life, no matter how valuable or precious they are! If pets are in the house, designate an able and willing household member to ensure all animals make it out safely. Should it be unsafe to look for the pets, the member should open at least two exit points in the home to allow pets to escape on their own. Most animals have a survival instinct and can exit on their own when a threat such as fire is nearby.
Allow the firemen to do their job! Too many people try to be the “hero” and wind up getting themselves injured or worse when attempting to do a job they are not equipped for or hinder the firemen by grabbing onto them and using them as emotional support in the moment. Having a plan also allows you to account for all members of the household and, if there are any missing, you can let the Fire Chief know so he can direct a rescue crew. If you know a devastating event may cause yourself or a loved one to hinder the firemen’s efforts, plan ahead to grab one small precious or support item to hold as the firemen work to save as much of the house as possible.
Questions about the Hang Up or other helpful products? Go to our Damsel Pro Locator here to find your local Safety Educator!
