It just takes 2 minutes for a fire to become life threatening and in 5 minutes your home can become totally engulfed in flames. According to the NFPA, in 2017 there were 357,000 fires causing 2630 deaths and 10,600 injuries. Staying safe from fires at home begins with you. Awareness alone is not enough; proper preventative action is crucial. Save your family from the trouble of having to deal with a fire at home, and a firefighter from risking his life running into your burning residence by following these fire safety tips.
• Watch your cooking – in the kitchen when you’re frying, grilling, or Bryan wing food. If you must leave, even for short time, turn off the stove.
• Give space heaters space – keep fixed and portable space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the broom or go to sleep.
• Smoke outside – ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
• Keep matches in lighters out of reach – keep matches in lighters a pie, out of the reach of children, preferably in the cabinet with the child.
• Inspect electrical cords – replaced cords that are cracked or damaged have broken plugs or have loose connections.
• Be careful when using candles – keep candles at least 1 foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Have a home fire escape plan – make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
• Install smoke alarms – install smoke alarms on every level of the home, and side bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Text smoke alarms – test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm chirps to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarms that is more than 10 years old.
• Install sprinklers – if you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less than less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.
During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. If you need help to rebuild your home from a fire, call the professional team at Orion Construction at 330-244-9708. We specialize in rebuilding your home from fires.
