Fire safety is a cause that I’m VERY passionate about. Fortunately, home fires are something we can help prevent by being prepared and by teaching our family and children what to do in the case of a fire. By having a home safety plan and practicing it regularly, you and your family will know exactly what to do if you ever find yourself in a home fire.
Since October is National Fire Prevention Month, it’s the perfect time to take inventory of your home safety and to make sure you have everything you need to prevent fire/carbon monoxide emergencies, including items like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers from First Alert.
Developing a home safety checklist is a great first step in making sure your family is prepared in case of a fire or other home emergency so you can get out of your home quickly AND safely. Here’s what you need to get started with your whole home safety checklist:
create a family home safety checklist
Before you begin, print out this home safety checklist. Here are some things to add to the list:
- Fire and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms for every level of your home, apartment or condo AND for every bedroom.
- Set reminders to test your alarms regularly. This will ensure that they are working properly.
- Replace the batteries in your alarms every 6 months. It can be helpful to make a note to check batteries when daylight savings time begins and ends– it’s easy to remember! If you don’t want to worry about checking batteries every six months, you can purchase a 10-year sealed battery alarm.
- Make a family plan for evacuating your home in case of fire or other emergencies and make sure you practice regularly! You will need to have two ways out of each room of your home. Usually, this is a door and a window, but it may vary depending on the room and your home. Regularly ensure that any window or doors used for escape are not blocked and open easily when needed.
- Designate a meeting spot a safe distance away from your home. Teach them the phrase “Get out and stay out!” You can help make practice more fun by timing your escape. Kids love a little healthy competition!
Download your own home safety checklist and Jr. Fire Marshall badge to use with your children.
make sure you have fire extinguishers in your home!
It’s SO important to make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, apartment or condo. Having a fire extinguisher in close proximity to the kitchen is a must, as the number one cause of home fires is unattended cooking! Other good places for fire extinguishers include the laundry room, grilling area, garage, and near bedrooms.
It’s equally important to make sure you know how to use the fire extinguisher properly. Take a few minutes to review the instructions so you will be prepared if you ever need to use it!
I would love to hear your tips about getting your home safety plan in place and how you remind and encourage your family to practice it.
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