We don’t think about fire safety as much as we should. For most, conversations about fire safety only come up after you’ve heard of a fire happening. Maybe for you, the last fire safety discussion you had was after that house across town burnt down or when the fire department visited your child’s school. Needless to say, it’s probably been awhile since you’ve given fire safety much thought. Now’s as good a time as any to make a plan that the whole family can get in on. And the first place to start? Your home’s smoke alarms.
Smoke Alarms
For many, this is a smart starting point to get you and your family into a fire safety routine. The importance of working smoke detectors is undeniable, reducing your chance of a fire-related death by 51%. Once a month, you should be checking all of the smoke alarms in your house, paying special attention to the alarms in the bedrooms. Checking a smoke alarm is quick and easy. All you have to do is push the “Test” button on the alarm and make sure it beeps back at you.
When you go around and check your alarms, get your kids involved. Let them know what your home alarm will sound like, and begin talking to them about what they should do if it ever goes off.
Fire Escape Plan
In a report from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), there were over 350,000 home fires in 2014 with a total of 2,745 deaths. Having a planned fire escape route can increase the likelihood of you being able to find a safe way out of your home should disaster strike. The NFPA also suggests that if you have children, consider drawing out your home’s floor plan, walking them through all possible escape routes. Fires can spread rapidly – even within minutes – and any extra time you’re able to muster could be lifesaving.
Refresh Stop, Drop, and Roll
Accidents happen. Unfortunately, when it comes to accidents involving fire, the damage is usually severe. If ever you or a loved one’s clothes were to catch fire, your reaction must be instinctive. Talk to your family about the three steps of Stop, Drop, and Roll so they always know what to do:
- Stop what you’re doing; never run.
- Drop to the ground immediately, covering your face with your hands to protect it from the flames.
- Begin rolling over and over to extinguish the flames.
If you are near someone whose clothes catch fire, help extinguish the flame and begin treating the injury with cool water. From there you should immediately call 911.
Don’t Leave the Toaster Plugged In
In some regards, all appliances could be fire hazards. Shorts in their electrical components could cause a spark, leading to a flame. Toasters, however, pose a more likely threat. Think of it this way: what does a toaster do? It converts enough electric energy to be able to toast your bread. The creation of that much heat can turn into a fire hazard when the heating components or wiring malfunctions. In addition, the accumulation of bread crumbs can serve as fuel for a fire, should one start.
A reported 41% of home fires start in the kitchen each year. If you don’t have one already, you should keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. In addition, talk to your family about needing to unplug appliances when they’re not in use, especially your toaster. Maybe discuss taking turns cleaning out the toaster’s crumb drawer, to help establish a better habit of checking and upkeep.
Sometimes, even doing all of the right things to protect your home from a fire is not enough. Accidents and natural disasters happen every day. Are you unsure what your policy covers in the event of a fire? Give Doyle & Ogden a call to review your coverage to determine what’s covered and what isn’t. We’re here to help you find a policy that offers you better coverage at the best price. Call us at 616-949-9000 or Get a Quote online today!
