What Is Basic Home Fire Safety? – A Brief Guide

DIY Security Systems

Every year, there are a lot of houses that burn due to accidents. Some of the main factors of a house burn are a spark from electrical wire, overheating appliance, children playing with match sticks or lighter, or gas leaks. It is possible to prevent all these factors if you and your family know the basic home safety for fire. What is basic home fire safety that you should know in case a fire happens to your home? There is also home fire safety equipment that is available for you to install in your home for early detection or warning.

Basic Fire Safety Procedure

If you are wondering what is basic home fire safety procedure, it is a list of the things that you need to do in the event of a fire. Also, it is good to practice this procedure once or twice a year to make sure everyone will be safe and can handle themselves independently.

Extinguish the fire (if possible)

The first thing you need to do is to try your best to extinguish it. If you have a fire extinguisher, it is best to grab it and aim it directly to the fire then towards its source. But if the flame is uncontrollable, don’t take the risk but rather bring yourself to safety.

Don’t panic and call the fire department

If the fire can’t be controlled, call the fire department for them to handle the situation. It is also best to have all the emergency contact numbers displayed in a common area in the house so that anyone can give them a call when needed.

Grab a damp towel

If you are stuck in a room and fire is slowly spreading, grab a damped towel or any damped cloth and hold it over your head. This can help shield you from the heat of the fire. You can also use the damped cloth to open doors and prevent your hands from touching a hot doorknob.

If smoke is present, duck down.

Smoke is always the cause of death during a fire and not the fire itself. If smoke is too thick in the event of a fire, duck down and crawl your way out with the damped towel on you. Smoke will always remain on the top layer of the room, and there is a small space of air right bellow it. And this is enough for you to breathe and move your way out.

Don’t run if you’re on fire

It can be excruciating and scary if you are on fire. And running will not help since the more you expose fire with air, the more it will flare you up. What you need to do is to stop moving, drop yourself on safe ground, then roll. Remember, stop-drop-roll.

Run for safety

Once you are out of the fire zone, run away towards a safe distance, and wait for the firemen to arrive. Inform your neighbors and your other family members about what happened so that they will help you with the situation

Get the Best Basic Home Fire Safety Equipment

There are different kinds of fire alarm systems that you can buy and install in your home to alert everyone in the house if there is a fire. Here is the different fire safety equipment you can choose from:

• Fire alarm
• Smoke detector
• Carbon monoxide alarms
• Fire extinguisher
• Fire blanket
• Fire ladder

If you are already familiar with the basic home fire safety procedure, you will be able to guide your family on what to do in case of fire.

How to Prevent the House from Fire

We can always prevent a fire from occurring as long as we are mindful of the things that cause them. Also, having the right equipment can help us determine if a small flame or smoke is happening inside the house.

Check your fire safety system

If you already have a fire safety system installed, make sure that they are working correctly and test it at least every month. When it comes to checking the fire safety system, ask a family member or anyone in the house if the alarm is loud enough. If it isn’t as loud as it should be, replace the batteries. Also, replace old ones every 10 years or when it has minor defects.

Doublecheck the appliances

Before going to bed, always check if all of the appliances are unplugged. Even if it is turned off, it is still generating electricity from the main socket. Especially, if you have an extension cord with a lot of plug-ins connected to it, it is also mandatory that if you are going out for an entire day or for a weekend to unplug all appliances. You don’t want to go home with a burning house after work or vacation.

Have a carbon monoxide level detector

Carbon monoxide is a scentless chemical that runs around the air. You can’t smell it, but it can start a fire once it is combined with a fire’s fuel. Having a carbon monoxide level monitor can help prevent and detect a fire before it happens.

Be responsible

Keep all fire-prone materials in a hard place that is hard to reach. Don’t let your kids play with matches or lighters and also be responsible for using your appliances. And also, be sure not to overuse your devices because this can be the start of a fire.

Always be cautious

Being responsible can always put you to safety in any situation, even during a fire. Always be cautious with the things that you have and the things that you do. Keep all of the fire-prone items away from sockets, appliances, and any other things that can cause a fire. If you know what is basic home fire safety, then you are good to go. Just be sure that you are calm when you are executing the right procedure to make everyone safe.