Unfortunately, we have many dumpster rentals because of homes burning down. We prefer to serve our customers during renovations or positive moments instead. The Scapers family wanted to share some fire safety tips to hopefully prevent home fires.
Install Smoke DetectorsโMore than 30% of home fire deaths are connected to homes without smoke detectors. You can cut your chance of dying in a house fire in half just by installing proper smoke detectors. Make sure that you have smoke detectors on every level of your home as well as inside and outside of every bedroom.
Test Smoke Detectors MonthlyโDepending on your smoke detectors, they may beep when they need new batteries, but better to check them manually to be certain. You can generally hold down one button on your smoke detector to check that it is functioning properly.
Discuss a Fire Escape Plan with your FamilyโYour plan should include at least two ways for every family member to get out of the house. This is important just in case one of the routes is blocked. Remind everyone to stay low and keep moving to minimize smoke inhalation. Have a designated spot decided to meet up outside. Remind every family member not to return inside the burning house once they get out, even to try and save people, pets, or possessions. Depending on your situation, you may only have two minutes to exit safely, so time your family and practice fire drills at least twice a year.
Teach Responsibility with Lighters and MatchesโExplain to your children about the dangers of playing with lighters and matches. If you have younger children, make sure your lighters and matches are in a secure location.
Pay Attention to your CookingโWhether you are frying on a stovetop or barbecuing on a grill, make sure you keep an eye on your cooking. According to the NFPA, over a billion dollars of damage is done each year from house fires started by cooking. If you start cooking, stay nearby. Also, make sure you have a working fire extinguisher nearby if needed.
Utilize your Heat Sources Wisely–During the winter season, many people turn to fireplaces, space heaters, wood stoves, and electric blankets for extra warmth. These heat sources are safe to use when you follow safe practices. If you are using a fireplace or wood stove, make sure to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer and never use them improperly. Also, when you put them out for the night, make sure the fire is truly out. Do not fall asleep while using a space heater or electric blanket. Although electric blankets sometimes have safety features to turn them off, you should not rely on that. You could be risking a fire hazard or at the very least burning yourself. Space heaters are notorious for overheating after being used for too long or damaging the outlets they are plugged into, resulting in a fire hazard. Switch off your space heater before going to sleep at night.
Get Fire Extinguishers and Learn How to Use ThemโIdeally, you should have at least one fire extinguisher on every floor of your home. You should keep one in your kitchen for sure. You could have another one near heat sources like a fireplace or dryer. Another wise spot would be in bedrooms to ensure your familyโs safety. Check your fire extinguishers periodically to make sure they are in good working order.
We hope you will prepare your family and prioritize fire safety today!
Thank you for bringing it up! I also want to remind you and your readers to clean the space around heating units. Lint and dust are highly flammable, and even a little spark is enough to make them catch fire. You can avoid dust buildup by vacuuming inside and around your furnace every month. For wall furnaces, clean inside the burner compartments. Clean this area at least once a month during winter to avoid lint buildup. For natural gas furnaces, the flame should burn blue. Orange or yellow flames may mean your furnace needs cleaning or adjusting by a professional.