Just a quick checklist to consider before the holiday season.
- The more, the more safe:?You'll need more than a couple of fire alarms to warn you of fires in your home. Make sure you get at least one for each room and hallway in your house, although large rooms may need more than one fire alarm for adequate protection. If you're unsure, a professional security company can recommend the proper number of fire alarms for your particular home.
- Location, location, location:?Fire alarms are most effective when you put them in the right spot. Install them in the middle of ceilings or on walls a few inches from the ceiling and several feet from a corner. Avoid placing them too close to showers or kitchen appliances, as harmless steam and smoke from these areas can trigger false alarms. A professional can also recommend the alarm's ideal location based on your home layout.
- Maintain your fire alarms:?Fire alarms won't last forever. Check your fire alarms by pressing the "test" button at least monthly. Then, replace their batteries annually, or whenever you hear the alarm signaling a low battery with a chirping sound.?Consider replacing the whole alarm ten years after you install it.
- Have a plan in place if a fire alarm sounds:?Many homeowners freeze in their tracks when they hear the fire alarm sound. Instead, you must have a plan in place beforehand to increase everyone's chances of getting to safety. Talk to your family about what to do and where to go if the fire alarm sounds. Practice this plan a couple of times per year to stay prepared for emergencies.
Several types of fire alarm safety devices are available to install in your house. They each have different ways of achieving the same goal — warning you of the dangers of fire within your home. Here are some of the available devices that make up a functioning fire alarm system:
- Smoke detectors:?These common alarms alert homeowners of smoke in the air, which is usually a sign that a fire is nearby. They can have replaceable batteries or sealed 10-year batteries or exist as part of a wired system.
- Cameras:?Installing security cameras?throughout your home's interior and exterior can help you find the fire's location by checking your security camera feed. When you're out of the house, you can stream footage to your phone and call first responders if you spot a fire.
- Sprinklers:?A sprinkler is an essential feature in a connected?fire alarm system. When the smoke alarms sound, the alarm system can trigger sprinklers to cover the area in water. This feature can reduce the fire's damage or stop it completely before firefighters arrive.
Your fire alarm is a vital feature in your family's fire escape plan. Safely using a fire alarm involves taking the right steps before and after it goes off.
Here are some home fire safety tips to put in place before a fire ever happens:
- Blow out candles:?Candles cause 15,600 fires?each year. Always extinguish candles when you leave a room and before you go to bed.
- Turn off kitchen appliances:?Switch off ovens and stoves after cooking. If you need to leave the room, turn them off in the meantime and switch them back on when you return. Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol, which can impair your ability to remember to switch off your appliances.
- Give space heaters room:?Avoid using space heaters near furniture, curtains or other combustible materials. Turn off space heaters when leaving the room.
- Never smoke indoors:?Enforce a "no smoking" policy in your home. A small piece of burning ash or a cigarette that's still lit when its user falls asleep can lead to dangerous situations.
- Prepare with your family:?Practice your fire escape plan with your family so that everyone knows what to do in a fire emergency.
Here's what you should do the moment you hear your home's fire alarms going off:
- Put the plan in action:?Remember what you practiced and engage in your fire escape plan as soon as the fire alarm sounds.
- Gather at the specified location:?Meet?at the agreed-upon location and make sure everyone is present.
- Call 911:?Call the authorities immediately to report the fire and get first responders on the scene.
- Never re-enter the building:?Resist the temptation to re-enter the building as you wait for the firefighters to arrive, even if a pet or another person is inside. Let the professionals handle these acts of rescue.
Be sure to also check your fire extinguisher and give every member of the family a chance to train on best practices. For those living in the Marin County area, please consider enrolling in a fire prevention class. Here is the link to find out more: firesafemarin.org
Of course, we never think it will happen to us or our loved ones, but it's up to us to keep ourselves and our families as safe as we can. Thanks for reading this and have a joyous holiday season everyone!
