According to the United States Fire Administration, fires kill more than 4,000 people in America each year and injure approximately 20,000 more. Nearly 2 million fires are responded to by US fire departments, with three-quarters of them occurring in homes.
Take advantage of the focus of October Fire Prevention Month to be sure your home and family are protected from and prepared for a fire. Here are some safety tips to help keep your family safe and to avoid injury should a fire occur:
- Smoke Detectors / Alarms - Widely available and inexpensive, smoke detectors/alarms needed to be installed in all of the rooms of your home and tested monthly to be sure they are working properly.
- Avoid Electrical Fire Hazards - Never overload circuits or extension cords. Never place wires or cords underneath rugs or in high walking traffic areas. Check the fit of plugs in wall outlets to avoid loose electrical connections. Poor connections can cause a fire in minutes from overheating.
- Home Fire Sprinklers - when used in combination with properly functioning smoke detectors/alarms, fire safety sprinklers greatly increase the chances of surviving a fire. They are inexpensive and can lower your home insurance rates and even increase your property value.
- Always have an Escape Route - create the quickest and safest route should fire occur in any room of your home and practice it with your family regularly. Teach everyone to stay low to the floor and checkwith the back of your hand for hot doors to avoid backdraft.
- Choose the position of your Appliances Carefully - Keep your TV and other appliances away from windows with curtains. In case of a wiring problem or loose connection, a fire that reaches the curtains can quickly spread. Rain or moisture that reaches the appliances from the window can cause wiring malfunctions as well.
For more fire safety tips and an electrical safety inspection contact the team at John's Electric.
