Home Fire Safety Tips

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From having a fire escape plan, to knowing some various fire prevention tips, it’s important to be prepared in case of a fire. 

Having a Home Fire Escape Plan

For many families, having a plan can save valuable time, helping ensure that all family members know the quickest- and safest- route to exit their home.

  • A fire escape plan gives you the opportunity to discuss the importance of fire safety. A plan can get you talking about safety and being proactive.
  • A fire escape plan gives you and your family options, each plan should have at least two exit routes, this will help a family member escape, even if one exit is blocked or too dangerous.
  • Fires are a scary scenario, especially for children, so having a plan, practicing it, and making sure your children know it is important for their safety.

Smoke Alarms and Detectors

Smoke alarms are an important part of every home. Use these safety tips to utilize smoke alarms to help stay safe.

  • Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and on every level of your home, this includes basements and attics.
  • Typically, smoke alarms that connect to others on the home are the safest, being connected allows them to all sound off when one does.
  • Smoke alarms should be placed on the ceiling or high up on walls.
  • You should swap your smoke alarm’s batteries according to manufacturer’s recommendations, and entirely replace your smoke alarms every ten years.

Kitchen Safety Advice

Kitchens should be for creating food and memories, not fires. Follow these tips to avoid accidents. 

  • Don’t leave food on heat sources unattended.
  •  Be cautious of children in the kitchen, turn handles towards the back of the stove to keep out of their reach.
  • Keep clutter away from your stove and flammable materials away from the heat. Food remnants, leftover liquids, and flammable cooking utensils should always be put away and kept from the heat.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher, cover, or baking soda nearby your kitchen.

Home Maintenance Tips

The following are some added suggestions to help prevent fires in your home.

  • Make sure your electrical connections are safe. You should look at your outlet and power strip to see if there are too many cords plugged in. Leaving too many connected can overload the circuit and possibly cause the outlet to overheat.
  • Be cautious of your dryer and its performance. You should clean out the lint trap and vent weekly to make sure there is no excess build up that could cause a fire.
  • When it comes to storing flammable items such as aerosol cans, nail polish, hand sanitizer, cooking oils, and baking materials, it is important to make sure they aren’t exposed to heat that could lead to damage.
  • Just as indoor fire safety is important, so is outdoor fire safety. Having outdoor firepits, grills, and other accessories can cause risk for fires, making sure your common area is properly upkept, clean, and the materials used to start fires are at a safe distance away is important.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.