Single-family and multi-family dwelling fires occur every day somewhere in our nation. Sadly, three firefighters have lost their lives in Delaware and New York City. The point of firefighters losing their lives indicates the danger of the job and the fact that something went catastrophically wrong. The question would you be prepared, if a fire were to occur in your home? Let’s go through a checklist and see.
Have you done a fire safety inspection in your home recently? The kitchen would be the place to start. More fires start in the kitchen than any other place in your home. The number one cause is unattended cooking, which would be hard to correct in a fire safety inspection. How would you handle a fire on the stove? If the fire is contained to a pan or skillet, then you need to cover it and turn the burner off, if possible. If the fire has extended beyond the stove top, then you need to get your family out and call 9-1-1.
While doing a fire safety inspection, you want to ensure that there are no electrical issues with switches, receptacles, or equipment.
If there is, fix it, replace it, or call an electrician. Another thing to look at is how you are using candles. Candles should not be left burning when you leave a room less they are in a glass container.
I will state the candle slogan, “when you go out, blow them out.” Another fire cause of which you will only find indications in a safety inspection is bad habits that have not led to a fire thus far.
For instance, a dish towel used as a potholder, with burnt spots on the towel. This is a problem waiting to manifest itself into a burn injury. One other thing that may show itself in a fire safety inspection is child-related fire activity. Indications of fire in a closet, on a bed, or in a toy box are all indications of a child having has gotten his or her hands on matches or a lighter. One other thing to look at is you primary and secondary heating systems. Have you changed the filters and had the heater serviced? How about your fireplace? Has it been cleaned and inspected lately?
One other part of the home inspection is your smoke alarms. Do you have an adequate number to alert everyone in your home?
The best number is one per floor of your home, one near the kitchen – though not close enough to be a nuisance – one outside of every bedroom, and one in every bedroom. If your smoke alarm is battery-operated, is the battery in it and does it work? Smoke alarms should be tested monthly. Remember, electrical detectors with battery backups are designed to work with power and when the power is off. Are the smoke alarms loud enough to wake your family up? Have you ever checked?
Do you have a home escape plan? Fires that kill or injure most people occur at night when people are sleeping. If you wake up to your smoke alarms activating, what will you do? Who will assist small children, handicapped members of your family, and your pets? If you do not practice this, it will be much more difficult when a fire occurs. The statement for escaping a fire is “get out and stay out.” How many of you will be able to do this if you have family inside? How will family members exit the second floor if fire has the first floor cut off? Do you have a rescue ladder? If so, have you practiced with it? If it does not come out of the box before the fire, it will not come out of the box during a fire.
I have offered no new information in this article. The problem is that most people do not think that a fire will ever occur in their home. Fires happen with no notice, except for an activating smoke alarm. If you do the right things, on the first try, when a fire occurs, then your chance of survival is greater. It is not your job to fight a fire, but to get your family out to your safe place.
Your stuff can be replaced, your loved ones cannot. I hope that you never have to deal with a fire in your home, condominium or apartment, but if it occurs, are you prepared?
