Official data shows that there are more a million fires reported in the US every year, causing a damage of over 10 billion dollars in total. Even worse, fires result in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries. And the fire regulations in the US are considered to be among the best in the world. Now imagine what kind of a hazard fires are in the rest of the world.
But, no matter where you live, you need to do all in your power to make your home safe from fires. To help you out, we’ve decided to share with you 5 very useful tips that can reduce the risk of fire in your household. So, here they are!
1. Test All of the Smoke Alarms in Your Home
Smoke alarms are your first line of defense against fires. They will let you know when there’s danger. And the best thing is that because they sense smoke, these devices will detect a fire early on. This way, you will be able to deal with it on time, before the fire makes some big damage. Even if you’re not home when the fire starts, the fire alarm will raise alarm among your neighbors or even notify the fire department on its own.
Of course, all of this is only true if all the fire alarms you have in your household are working properly. To make sure they’re doing their job right, you will have to test them on a regular basis. Check if the batteries need changing, test whether the system is responding to your commands, and even test the smoke detectors by lighting a cigarette next to them.
2. Test Your Fire Extinguishers
When the smoke alarm goes off, you have two options before you – call the fire department and wait for them to deal with it or take the matter in your own hands. If you think you can deal with the fire on your own, you will need to have fire extinguishers that work properly nearby.
To make sure they’re actually working properly, you need to test them from time to time. Checking whether they work fine is something you should do every couple of months. And if the winters are cold in your part of the world, we say test your fire extinguishers even more often. It’s because a fire extinguisher can freeze due to a cold weather and if that happens, you won’t be able to use it in the case of an emergency.
3. Inspect Heating Devices
The fact is that a big percentage of fires in American homes are started through malfunctioning heating units. This is why our advice is to have a professional check them up before the start of the heating season. The whole process usually doesn’t take long and is not too expensive, so there really is no reason not to do it.
4. Check the Condition of Cords & Wires
Another very common cause of fires is faulty electrical wiring. Even the fire in Norte Dame was reportedly caused by bad wiring inside the cathedral. Obviously, such scenarios can happen anytime anywhere, which is why you need to be cautious. And by ‘cautious’ we mean thorough when it comes to checking the conditions of electrical wiring in your home.
5. Be Aware of Hazards
Probably the best advice we can give you is to always be on the watch. After all, it’s your safety and wellbeing that’s at risk. So, keep in mind that leaving the stove or the oven on when you’re away is extremely dangerous. The same goes for leaving the fireplace unattended, placing candles near flammable items, and so on.