Fire Safety – Can You Afford to Live Without It?

Every home requires a fire safety plan to ensure that each member of the household knows exactly what to do in the event of a fire. Here are some valuable fire safety tips to help you create a solid home fire plan to protect your family.

1. Education

A fire safety plan for the home begins with education. You need to sit down with your family, kids especially, and run through the dangers of fire. From a young age children should be aware that any electrical item or flame producing instrument can potentially kill.

2. Escape Routes

Ideally there should be two exits available from every room. One will be the door and the other more than likely the window, unless of course there is an adjoining room. If there is no safe ledge to climb out onto, then consider installing fire escape ladders on the side of your house. Have the escape plan drawn up and posted in every room of the house to remind household residents and guests of what to do in an emergency. At the bottom of the plan, write a list of emergency numbers to be called should an occupant be trapped and have access to a phone. Be sure to include details of the emergency services, relatives and close friends.

3. Emergency Procedures

Teach your family the stop, drop, and roll technique. This is majorly important in the event that clothes are caught alight. Demonstrate how to safety climb out of a window by exiting backwards either onto a fire ladder or a roof ledge. Teach your family how to crawl beneath smoke to minimise inhalation, also demonstrate how to cover the nose and mouth with a t-shirt/shirt to prevent poisonous gasses entering the respiratory system.

4. Getting Used To The Alarm Signal

An alarm can cause panic if one is not used to hearing the sound. The last thing you want is your child to hide under the bed or in a closet through fear. Make sure every member of the household knows the sound of the alarm and what it means.

5. Meeting Spot

Designate a safe area, not too far away from the house but far enough away from the property to ensure safety. This is the point everyone shall meet once they have vacated the premises. Practise the evacuation once a month by setting off the alarm and making sure all members of the family congregate at the designated meeting spot.

6. Designated Fire Leader

One member of the family should be appointed fire leader. This person will become responsible for maintaining smoke detectors, ensuring there is a home fire plan posted in every room of the house, alarm testing and drill organisation.

7. Bulleting Proofing Your Fire Safety Plan

In addition to the fire safety tips set out above, you should consider the installation of a fire sprinkler system to protect your family in the event that someone gets trapped in the house with no escape route. Fire sprinklers are the only immediate proven method of fire extinguishment and have a long history of saving lives. To speak to a certified fire safety plan expert, contact Fire Fighter 24/7 today and let us help you secure the safety of your family.