There’s nothing as grueling and confusing as waking up to blaring flames and smoke. Every year, over 365,000 cases of fires are reported. About 2,650 deaths occur every year due to fire-related cases, and approximately $7 billion worth of property is also destroyed every year.
That’s not even the troubling part of this whole story; the most troubling fact is that the majority of these cases are preventable. If the victim were better informed and equipped with the basics, then many of them would still be alive, enjoying their family and property. People are getting inclined about the details of how to become a firefighter and are finding this as an appreciated work in the community.
This article focuses on essential fire safety tips and basic firefighting equipment such as the fire sleeve to have at your fingertips so that you’re always ready to evade a catastrophe.
Tips to preventing home fires
According to statistics from the U.S. Fire Department, they respond to a fire emergency every 86 second. That means on a normal day, the department deals with over 1000 cases of fire. The department said that unattended cooking is the leading factor of many of the fires reported to them. Other common causes of home fires include electrical malfunction, smoking materials, intentional fires, and heating equipment.
You can use the following tips to help you minimize the chances of fires breaking out in your home.
- Install smoke alarms in your home – if you’ve got several floors, ensure each has at least one. That makes it easier for anyone, regardless of their location in the house, to sound the alarm without a lot of difficulties.
- Make a rule in your house that says no living food that’s cooking unattended. Be extra careful with deep fryers and any other frying equipment in your home.
- Don’t use fixed and portable eaters since statistics show that these are also among the leading causes of home fires.
- Have an emergency plan for evacuation and rescue in case there’s a fire outbreak.
- Discourage people from smoking in the house.
Home fire prevention and electrical safety
As earlier hinted, many of the fire cases occur due to electrical malfunctions. If you’re doing the wiring for the first in your home, ensure you get the right person for the job. It’s easy to fall for the temptation of settling on the cheapest available option. But cheap things often come with a hefty price to pay. It’s better you spend money on quality and safe electrical appliances and paying for top expertise instead of taking chances.
If you realize a faulty electrical error in the power supply system, call an electrician from Wurtulla to look into the matter before it gets out of hand. If you’re not an electrical expert, it’s safe that you bring in an expert to investigate and solve the problem. For instance, if you try solving these problems yourself, you could end up causing fires that you never intended. Another important thing is that you use bulbs that are aligned with energy requirements and standardizations. Ensure that the lamps and any other light fixtures should bear a sticker showing their approved safety standards. While no one wants to consider what happens in the case that there is a fire, it can be a good idea to install one of these aluminium roof access hatches as an extra escape route in case something goes wrong.
A smoke detector can save your life.
If you look carefully at your alarm system, you’ll notice that there’s the “test” button. You should press the test button so that you find out if the alarm is working in the right manner. If, while checking, you find out that the system alarm is only chirping, you should start thinking of replacing its battery as soon as possible. According to fire experts, many fires occur as a result of the failure of the smoke alarms. Upon further investigation, it came out that the failure in these systems is usually due to dead or disconnected batteries.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 3 out of 5 fire deaths in homes come about due to dead or disconnected batteries. One of the essential considerations is for you to have proper and functional fire equipment. It might look like a smaller issue until when the worst happens. It would help if you also took care when buying a smoke detector, take some time to do your research and ensure you’re making the right decision. The best choice would be to go for a smoke detector that comes with a home security system monitored by the providing company.
Summary
The statistics quoted at the beginning shows a worrying trend and about the many fires that could have otherwise been avoided causing irreparable damage. The only way to avoid such a scenario from playing out, you need to be proactive in enhancing the security and safety of your home. Follow each of the tips we’ve listed for a chance to prove your house against the devastating effects of a fire.
Remember, our list doesn’t cover necessarily everything but provides insight into the most prevalent causes of home fires. Start today by implementing these changes or inviting a fire expert to do an in-depth analysis of your home and give you a comprehensive.
