Safeguard Your Wichita Home with These Fire Safety Tips

10/16/2023 (Permalink)

Home fires can cause irreversible damage. Did you know that in most cases, cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires and fire injuries? In the event of a fire emergency, you may have as little as two minutes to evacuate. The most effective way to protect your home and yourself is to identify and remove fire hazards. Here are some key fire safety tips that have been provided by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

 Fire Safety Tips:

• Develop multiple escape plans and practice them with your loved ones. Your plans should include escape routes from different areas of the house, tools for exiting the building (escape ladders, items to open, break out windows) and a designated meeting place.
• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms once a month, if they’re not working, change the batteries.
• Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

Preparing and Preventing a Home Fire - Steps You Can Take Now:

• Have your chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves and central furnace serviced once a year.
• Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
• Avoid smoking in bed.
• Educate your children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches and lighters, and keep them out of reach.
• Turn off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Keep an eye on your cooking.