September is National Preparedness Month, and a great time to take a moment to think about your family, friends, and community and what you can do to be ready for the challenges that could lie ahead. This blog post will help you get started with some simple steps to prepare for the worst-case scenarios of fires in your home.
The Biggest Fire Threats in Your Home
While most fires are relatively small and easily controlled, some can grow rapidly and become very dangerous. Even though your home should be some sort of a safe haven to protect you from danger, there are a couple of fire hazards you need to look out for.
Electrical Products
A lot of home fires come from an electrical source. These are electronic devices that are constantly kept plugged in. If the parts aren’t purchased from reputable retailers or stores, then this puts your home at a huge risk.
Candles
Leaving candles left unattended is another fire threat. As much as lighting them up sets the mood, be sure they’re placed in proper containers that won’t allow the fire to spread.
Fireplaces
If you have a fireplace, you also have to make sure that there’s enough ventilation in the room. Light the fire properly and don’t keep anything flammable near it.
Wiring
Don’t forget to have your household wires checked on a regular basis. Being that it’s not easily seen, it can be easily overlooked. Faulty wiring can cause house fires if not treated immediately.
Barbecue Grills
Keep your grill far from overhanging trees and other objects that are combustible objects. Always make sure you have an extinguisher at bay if ever the fire on the grill becomes too intense.
What to Do in a Home Fire
If you have a fire in your home, the first thing you should do is get everyone out of the house. Once everyone is safely outside, you can call 911. The firefighters will be able to put out the fire and assess any damage to your home.
If you have time, you can grab some important belongings on your way out. However, it is more important to get yourself and your family to safety first. Once everyone is safe, you can begin thinking about what to do next.
If your home is damaged in a fire, you will need to find a place to stay while it is repaired. You may be able to stay with family or friends. If not, there are many hotels and other places that will be happy to help you out in a time of need.
No matter what happens, try to stay calm and remember that things can be replaced but people cannot. The most important thing is that everyone gets out of the house safely.
Creating an Emergency Plan
When it comes to being prepared for a fire, having an emergency plan is vital to ensure that everyone is informed and safe should an unfortunate event arise. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating your plan:
Educate everyone in your household.
Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in the event of a fire. This includes knowing how to safely evacuate the home and who to contact if someone is missing.
Plan ahead.
Plan ahead for what you will do if your first escape route is blocked by fire or smoke. Have a backup route in mind and make sure everyone knows where it is.
Test out your plan.
It’s important to practice your plan! Hold regular drills so that everyone knows what to do and can act quickly and calmly in the event of an actual fire.
Conclusion
While September National Preparedness Month is a great reminder for all of us to stay prepared for any disaster, this reminder should stick with you throughout the year. You want to make sure that your house is well-equipped and safe from any fire threats. Besides fire-proofing your home, you and the other people in your household should be prepared how to deal with an unexpected fire.
Purchasing and constructing a home safe from danger requires a lot of research and can be overwhelming, but with the help of the professional and helpful agents at
Meraki Real Estate, you’ll be able to have the best of both worlds for your next home.
