Fires in residences account for some 80 percent of fire-related deaths. Did you know about 4,000 people die each year from fires in the home, with about 25,000 people being injured by fires yearly? Meanwhile, fires cause billions of dollars in property damage yearly, too. What are some things that can be done to help prevent home fires?
Install the Right Smoke Alarms
At the top of the list is having properly working smoke alarms in the home. Most fire-related deaths occur where homes don’t have smoke alarms or where those alarms aren’t working! By having smoke alarms in the home, people can be alerted to a fire giving them both time to get out of the home and time to alert the authorities to come extinguish the blaze before it gets out-of-hand.
If it has been a while since you checked your home’s smoke alarms, do test them out and replace dead batteries where needed. Also, make sure you have plenty of smoke alarms covering your whole house, rather than just one or two. It’s recommended that people have a smoke alarm inside/outside every sleeping area as well as on every level of the home.
While smoke alarms are excellent, you might also consider fire sprinkler systems. For residences, these can be low pressure systems, slowing the spread of a fire. You should also invest in fire extinguishers for every level of your home.
Chimney and Fireplace Maintenance
As for housekeeping, make sure your chimney and fireplace are inspected annually. Clothing dryer vents need to be cleaned out often. And never leave burning candles unattended– who knows what could happen if no one is in the room with those!
Finally, smoking cigarettes is a major cause of house fires. Usually people fall asleep with a cigarette dangling from their mouth. It drops on the bed or floor and ignites a fire. Alternatively, people “throw out” their cigarettes, not really putting them out– and then fires start in garbage cans. If a person smokes, it’s best to smoke outside the home and be very careful about disposing of cigarettes so they don’t accidentally start the house, garage or yard on fire.
If you need help selecting the right fire alarm systems for your needs, contact the experts at Life Safety Consultants today.
