House fire disasters happen quite frequently. In most instances, they are accidental. This means that people could have prevented them from occurring.
Your house is supposed to be your safe haven. Hence you’ll want to keep your family safe and protected inside the house at all times.
Fire safety starts with proper awareness of the fire hazards in a house and what could be done to stay safe. That said, here are some of the best tips for you to apply in your homes, for better fire safety:
1. Install Smoke Alarms.
Most people don’t consider installing fire safety equipment, such as smoke alarms in their homes. It’s natural to feel that you don’t need it. Unlike for business, for instance, where there’s so much at stake for you to lose if it all burns down.
However, when you come to think of it, is it not that there’s so much more for you to lose in your home? That’s your house, after all. What if the fire starts to happen at night when everyone is sleeping? That can be the start of more danger if you don’t wake up right on time. Lives can, unfortunately, be lost.
Smoke alarms spray water after it alarms when it senses too much smoke in a room. You can do no wrong with considering this as a worth it investment for your home.
2. Switch Off Outlets And Appliances When Not In Use.
This second tip may seem quite obvious, but it’s also one of the most neglected and forgotten practices by many. Especially when you’re in a rush, it’s so easy to forget to switch off and unplug.
It’s more convenient to think that just because the appliances are not in use, it won’t catch fire anyway. But you never really know.
Many fires happen because of appliances that are left unplugged or not switched off. Make it a good habit never to leave anything unplugged when you leave the house. When you’re able to develop this practice, it instantly forms part of your instinct always to switch off outlets, and unplug idle appliances.
3. Replace Worn Out Appliances.
As much as you’d like to extend the life of your appliances, they’re only meant to live for so long and not a lifetime. When you start to see that your appliances aren’t functioning as well enough as it should, then it’s about time for you to replace them.
Sometimes, the cords and plugs are also getting worn out. Keeping them only poses more danger and hazard to your home. It’s like a ticking time bomb that can explode anytime when in use. Rather than regretting it later on, it’s best to always stay on the safe side.
4. Extinguish Candles Before Going To Bed.
This section applies to colder countries or cities that like to use candles a lot. Not only do these candles smell good in a house but they also keep rooms warm. Some may consider this cheaper and more economical than keeping the heaters on full blast. During dinner parties, candles are also an excellent way to keep the house look cozy.
Before you leave the room, however, and when you’re about to go to bed, don’t forget to extinguish all the candles. Never leave any candle on for the whole night. In that regard, also, be sure that you position the candles away from flammable objects such as curtains and table cloths. At all times, leave it away from the reach of children, too.
5. Practice Safe Cooking.
Many fire accidents also happen while people are cooking. Especially for those of you that tend to multitask, always remember never to leave cooking unattended for long periods. Do check once in a while to ensure that your stove and other cooking appliances have not overheated.
Here are some ways for you also to practice safe cooking:
- If you need to leave the kitchen for a long time, switch off the stove or open temporarily.
- When you’re deep-frying, ensure that the fire doesn’t get in the oil.
- Keep children out of the kitchen when you’re cooking.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
Another excellent tip for you to follow is to check the current layout of your house. Are you plugging too many appliances close beside each other? Are there hazards placed directly close to your stove?
If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen soon, you might also want to take into consideration the layouts and technologies that can help lower fire hazards in this fire-prone section of your home.
Conclusion
With the advancements in technology also came an increase in inherent fire dangers in a house since there are more appliances to plug and use. Many basic tasks that were done by humans before are now done by machines, both big and small.
However, this shouldn’t have to be such a negative thing. You can still enjoy having the technology to your advantage in your home without sacrificing fire safety. Be mindful of these tips, and you’re one step ahead towards keeping your home fire-proof.
