Are you or your family dreading a house fire? Follow these fire prevention tips to avoid facing any such tragedy at home.
US residential fires increased by a staggering 5% in 2017, reaching 379,000, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Unfortunately, 3,400 people lost their lives in US residential fires during the same year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
A serious problem in the US is that most families don’t take the right precautions or know how to safely escape a house fire. . Ready.gov states that it takes no more than 30 seconds for a house fire to turn into a life-threatening one, and the incumbents have less than 2 minutes to get out before being trapped.
If you are dreading a house fire, then here are some tips that can help you prevent one in the first place.
Test Your Smoke Detectors Every Month
When it comes to preventing house fires, never underestimate the power of smoke detectors. They are your first line of defense against a fire breakout.
As soon as the first fumes of smoke enter your smoke detector, it immediately alerts you with a loud alarm, giving you the opportunity to address the problem before it aggravates into a serious disaster. When you install a smoke detector for the first time, make sure its alarm can be clearly heard in every room.
Since smoke detectors don’t function regularly, they stop working over time, and homeowners often remain oblivious of this fact. To avoid this, take out a few minutes from your busy schedule to test your smoke detector every month. If required, replace the batteries too.
Be Extra Careful in Your Kitchen
Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires, making kitchens a hotspot for fire incidents. That’s why you should take extra caution and not leave cooking food unattended.
Avoid wearing loose clothing or keeping your long hair open while cooking. This way, there won’t be a chance of your hair or garments igniting as you bend for some reason.
Also, keep flammable stuff away from the stove or cooktop. These might include paper products, wrappers, oven mitts, or dish towels.
Render Caution During Holidays
Fires are quite common during the winter holidays. To avoid fires during the Christmas season, choose real Christmas trees instead of artificial ones and keep watering them so they don’t dry out. Dried-out trees tend to catch fire quickly.
Also, since most Christmas tree fires are caused due to any electrical or lighting equipment present around, keep it at least 3 feet away from any heating source.
Besides, maintain your holiday lights in good condition with no fraying cords, cracked lamps, or loose connections. More importantly, avoid the use of candles.
While the tips stated above can minimize the chances of house fires, a fire incident can still happen for unidentified reasons because nothing is certain.
If you do face fire damage at home, content STOP Bakersfield for immediate home restoration.
