It may surprise you to learn that there are in the region of 47,000 accidents related to house fires in the US every single year. Not only does mean serious damages to property that costs thousands of dollars but it can, in many situations cost the lives of people caught up in them. It’s rather upsetting when you realize that over 3,400 people die every year from burns and fire-related injuries that occur in the safe havens we like to call home.
In many situations, while we are not trying to speak ill of the deceased, these fires can be avoided or the risk of them occurring can be greatly reduced at the very least – if we all take preventative measures and put specific safety practices in place in our homes.
To help you avoid becoming another statistic in the local evening news, we have put together this list of top tips for protecting you, your home and all that live with you from fires.
Be Cautious With Your Electrical Goods
First things first, when it comes to your electrical outlets, make sure they are all covered by protectors. This one little safety measure can prevent a multitude of fires. Be sure to also replace or repair frayed wires and cables, as these present the risk of suddenly igniting if there is a spark. Likewise, if the wires are okay but the plugs have seen better days – earnestly replace them properly.
Furthermore, if your breakers and fuses seem to be blowing and tripping more and more frequently – take that as a sign to act fast and have them replaced as soon as you can. The bottom line is when it comes to electrical appliances and your electrical setup in your home, you need to regularly check everything from wires and plugs to fuses and breakers so that you don’t miss the chance to replace them and repair them before it is too late.
Space Heater and Heating Safety Tips
The second biggest causes of fires in residential areas, after electrical issues, is heating and heaters. Portable heaters are a major culprit and can start deadly fires by lighting up your window blinds or curtains if you are not sensible about where you set them up in your home.
As a general rule, you should always allow 3 feet or more of space around a space heater, being sure to keep them away from bedspreads, draperies and other furniture. Also be wise about having your space heaters switched on when kids or pets are around and ensure they are always supervised on those occasions.
Fire Safety In The Kitchen
It is easy to become complacent in the kitchen if you never experience any dangerous incidents. You can often think that it won’t happen to you. This is often when problems occur. So, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. With that in mind, make sure you are aware of what’s around a hot hob and oven when you are roasting, baking, grilling, frying, broiling or boiling.
Always make sure any heating elements and your stove are clear from flammable items such as paper towels, pot holders and dish towels before you start cooking.
It’s recommended that every kitchen has at least some specialist fire safety equipment available to hand, such as a small kitchen fire extinguisher within reach and if possible, a fire blanket as well just to be on the safe side.
Be Cautious Even With Candles
Often people let their guard down when using candles and forget that where there are flames there are fires. We all know that candles are nostalgic and romantic, but those pretty open flames they produce are also incredibly dangerous. If you aren’t sensible, that is. We are not really suggesting that you completely omit them from your life altogether – though it may be safer to invest in artificial, battery-powered alternatives. Whenever you do use traditional candles though, that you always put them out if you are leaving the room, even if it is for a short time and that children should not be allowed to light them by themselves or be left alone with them.
Invest In Appropriate Alarms
Last, but certainly not least we need to stress the importance of investing in effective and appropriate smoke alarms and have them installed on each floor of your property. It may even be worth installing them in different quarters of your property, on each floor. You should also make it a habit of inspecting them every month to check they are working properly. Also, make it a yearly practice to replace all the batteries in your smoke alarms and invest in replacement alarms every decade.
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