Did you know that fires are most likely to occur in the spring and summer months? Due to dry conditions and high temperatures, the spread of grass/brush fires and lightning strikes, the likelihood of a fire during the summer is higher than during the fall and winter. However, most houses fires start inside of the home. So, are there precautions your family can take to avoid the incidence of a home fire? Absolutely! Keep your family in-the-know with fire safety strategies and optimize your home to protect you against house fires.
Read our home fire safety tips below to learn how to keep your loved ones safe!
Prioritize Smoke Detectors
From a young age, you have been told that smoke alarms save lives – and it’s true! According to the National Fire Protection Association, the risk of death in a reported home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. It is a simple yet often overlooked step in home fire safety. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas to ensure your family is made aware of a fire inside your home as soon as possible.
Above all, it is crucial to test your smoke alarms every month. The death rate in home fires was twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms, including smoke alarms with dead or disconnected batteries. Our NEXGEN Smart Home Automation system can keep you connected to your smoke detectors. Not only will the system detect smoke or carbon monoxide in your home, but it will alert you when the batteries are low, disconnected or need to be replaced. Above all, NEXGEN will make sure you won’t have to worry about malfunctioning smoke detectors again!
Have an Escape Plan
Talk with your family and establish a fire escape plan. Make sure each family member knows the primary and secondary exit for each room in your home. Consider emergency escape options like a neighbouring roof or a collapsible ladder. Lastly, practice your escape plan twice a year to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of emergency.
Cook Safely
Cooking is one of the leading causes of house fires. Adopting safe habits in the kitchen is necessary for fire prevention. Make sure you and your family are aware of how to avoid fire-related accidents in the kitchen. Some of these precautions include:
- Turning off stove burners and appliances after use
- Avoiding loose-fitting clothing, especially long sleeves, while cooking
- Keeping flammable objects (paper towels, cloths) away from the stove and oven
- Regularly cleaning burners and stovetops to avoid grease build-up that can catch fire
- Staying in the kitchen while cooking!
Monitor Candles
While candles can be a great way to set the mood or create a warm, inviting environment in your home, they are a hazard when it comes to home fire safety. If you plan on lighting candles inside your home, never leave them unattended. Place burning candles on stable surfaces and keep them away from flammable objects to prevent the risk of them catching fire.
Beware Electrical Outlets
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical fires account for up to 24,000 residential fires each year. Faulty wiring can cause electrical fires, but overloading electrical outlets can also cause a fire in the home. Luckily, with a little extra care and attention, this mistake is avoidable. Check appliances like hair dryers and lamps frequently for worn or frayed cords and discard/replace where necessary.
Our NEXGEN Smart Hub allows you to also remotely control your plugged in appliances. Have you ever left your home and felt overcome with dread or worry because you couldn’t remember if you unplugged your hair straightener? Finally, with a smart home automation system like NEXGEN, you won’t ever have to worry, because you can turn off any appliance in your home from your smartphone.
The Henderson Security team encourages all families to take preventative measures against house fires. With proper care and awareness, we can reduce the instance of house fires one working smoke detector at a time. For additional home fire safety, contact us to discuss our NEXGEN Smart Home Automation system where you can access all smart components of your home in one place, from anywhere in the world. Contact us today to learn more!