For Fire Prevention, Everyone Plays A Role
Public insurance adjusters have seen all there is to see when it comes to house fires. In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, now more than ever, is a good time to organize a fire prevention plan.
So it all starts with a thorough examination of your surrounding area. Walk around your property and try to identify any potential fire hazards you may come across. Here’s what to look out for:
1) Things that produce a high level of heat such as space heaters, grills, curling irons, candles, stoves, light bulbs. Don’t leave them unattended and make sure that there is a clear path around them.
2) Electrical systems that have seen better days such as multi-plugs, daisy-chained and under-rated extension cords, and worn or outdated wiring.
3) Smoking materials are dangerous and can rapidly cause a fire. A fallen ember can quickly spread into a wildfire.
Once you’ve given a thorough inspection, it’s time to check your smoke detectors and make sure they are working. You may find yourself with broken smoke detectors during a fire. Every floor should have one, because these are the alerts that will give you the proper amount of time to escape a fire. Proper smoke detector maintenance involves testing the alarm once a month, changing the batteries every six months and changing the actual device every 10 years.
You should have a safety plan at the ready with enough fire drills to practice how it will unfold. If the fire alarm goes off, everyone should know exactly what they need to do because they’ve rehearsed it at least twice.
You don’t want to find yourself becoming a statistic. Nearly 375,000 homes catch fire in the U.S. each year. These fires claim the lives of 2,600 people, injure 16,000 more, kill 40,000 pets, and leave behind $8 billion in property damage. Take the proper precautions and you can avoid becoming just another number.