lundi 24 mars 2014

Prevent Home Fires

By Jed Veal


Some people don't like to think too much about certain topics because they are unappealing. Unfortunately, the reason some topics are unappealing is because they could imply tragic or disastrous prospects, and not giving them enough thought could lead to being unprepared if they ever actually become a reality. To many people, fire safety procedures tend to fall into this category. It's not the most attractive thing to talk about, but it could save lives if the time comes.

Many people tragically die in fires every year, and many of these deaths would have been avoidable if proper planning had taken place. A fire escape route is something that every family should develop to ensure that every member of the family knows what to do if a fire starts in the home. You can meet with the whole family to get the plan sorted out and imprinted in everyone's memory. You should have a planned route out of every room, particularly the ones that you use the most and are most likely to be if a fire starts. Observe the layout of each room, planning a route around the potential obstructions. Once you have a path decided, make sure you don't store anything in the way. Have the whole family practice the route several times, setting it firmly in mind. If you have a home with multiple floors, you will need a quick route down in case the stairs become unusable. In this case, you may need to install a ladder on the window, or at least have rope ladder nearby that can be quickly deployed. Once everyone is out, they should meet at a previously-decided location.

While looking over your home's fire-safety rating, you may consider have sprinklers put in. While water damage can be an issue, it's far easier to repair and deal with than a home that's burned to husk. Often times, lives and property end up being saved by fire sprinklers. Some new homes come pre-equipped with them, and if not, they are rather simple and relatively inexpensive to installed or retrofitted. Tied to the home's water system, they can be an invaluable asset in keeping your family safe from fires. Most manufacturers offer sprinkler systems for homes that won't look out of place with the decorating scheme.

Most people enjoy lighting candles. They can create an atmosphere with their light and aroma. However, they are also one of the most common causes of home fires. If you choose to have candles, make sure they are not placed where they can be toppled, but remain visible. They should be out of the reach of children and animals, and the wicks should be cut to about one-fourth of an inch.

Every home should have a fire extinguisher that's easily accessible from any area of the house. With that, small fires can easily be dealt with before they become more serious. Placing one on each floor is a good idea. Hallways in the middle of the house might be a good place, as would the kitchen, where there's more potential for fires from appliances.

Finally, any chemicals that are flammable should be kept away from animals and kids at all times. Make sure the containers are not leaking, and that changes in temperature won't lead to fire hazards.

It's not always easy to get a fire safety put together, but it's well worth it if it ends up keeping your and your family safe from fires. You may even enjoy lowered insurance rates.




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