What can I do to prevent fires in my home? Smoke alarms, sprinklers and knowing how to react during a fire can help prevent severe fire damage in your home. Fires and burns are the third leading cause of...
Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths. This information comes from the Home Safety Council's State of Home Safety in America. Jeremy Robshaw, the Public Education Officer for St. John's County Fire Rescue, says that's why it's imperative that you do what you can to protect your family from accidental fires.
"There are many things you can do to prevent fires in your home. Some things are as simple as installing and testing smoke alarms in your home. Smoke alarms should be placed inside and outside of all sleeping areas and on every level of your home. Always use caution and pay attention when cooking. When you are cooking, don't wear loose clothing. If a fire does start within a pan while you are cooking, simply put a lid on the pan to smother the flame. One thing I will tell people to remember is not to pour water on a grease fire. That will not put out the fire. It will actually cause it to spread. Never leave your cooking unattended because fires can start and they spread very quickly," Robshaw says.
Besides the kitchen, there are many other places and items in the home that need to be looked at.
"Another area is electrical hazards. Always check your electrical cord for fraying, and for any cut or loose connection. Replace any damaged cords immediately and do not overload your electrical outlet," Robshaw says.
As far as storing items, you should always put away dangerous chemicals such as fertilizers and turpentine in their original containers. Try to lock them up in a storage room away from the home. This also includes gasoline. You should never bring gasoline indoors. Make sure you have a safety area where children do not have access to any type of dangerous chemicals. Children can become curious and play with what they find laying around. Many fires start this way, and they are completely preventable.
Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace. Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet away from children.
Here are some other important fire prevention tips: Keep towels and dish rags at least three feet away from your stove; wet cigarette and cigar butts before throwing them away in the trash can, and don't ever leave barbecue grills unattended while in use. Many people feel that barbecue coals will just fizzle out on their own, but if there are high winds in the area, they can give steam to the hot coals.
Robshaw says these tips can help benefit any home. He says all families have to make fire prevention a top priority in the home. Families should discuss fire prevention tips on a regular basis, especially in homes where children are left by themselves. Children need to know what the fire plans and codes of safety are for the home.
