It’s said that over 1/4th of reported fires in the United States are house fires, while 73% of fire related injuries occur from house fires. These statistics are not surprising, considering how easy it is for a small fire in your home to become a property destroying wildfire.
From cooking accidents to faulty electrical wiring, house fires are possible at almost any time, which is why it’s important to be prepared for this destructive emergency. In this article, we’ll detail what you and your family can do to prepare and prevent house fires.
Prepare a Fire Escape Plan
An essential part of house fire safety is creating a detailed fire escape plan that you and your family practices at least twice a year.
Sit down with your family and map out your house, making sure you come up with at least two escape routes for every family member. Know where your fire extinguishers are, along with air vents that should be covered in a fire emergency, and make sure all windows are easy to open. Most importantly, make sure everyone knows where to meet and who to contact if you are separated.
Install Smoke Alarms
Properly installed fire alarms can warn your household about a fire before it gets dangerously out of control. It’s important to install at least one on every floor of the house, and to place them on the ceiling or high on the wall. It’s also important to replace the batteries at least once a year, we recommend that you pick out a day each year to replace all the batteries for your smoke alarms.
Reduce Fire Hazards
There are plenty of small things you can do to prevent possible fires from starting.
- Replace frayed or damaged power cords
- Make sure you plug in the recommended amount of plugs into an outlet
- When cooking, always stay in the same room as the food to properly monitor it
- Wear short or close-fitting clothes that are kept away from open flames
- Dryer ducts should be properly cleaned on a regular basis to remove any flammable lint
- Always follow the instructions included with a space heater
At the end of the day, it’s important to be prepared for any emergency that can damage your home, because most of them happen without a moment’s notice. For those sudden problems in life, it’s vital to have insurance. Learn more about the residential insurance we offer here at Sanford Insurance so you can rest easier knowing someone’s got you covered.