Spring into Fire Safety

12Apr

Spring into Fire Safety

On: April 12, 2018 In: Fire Safety

When you’re in the throes of spring cleaning, take a moment and remember to add these fire prevention tips onto your honey-dos. Not only do you want to prevent fires and keep the lives of your family members safe, but you also want to safeguard against costly smoke damage which can often be impossible to remove. Here are a few fire safety tips to get you going.

Test Your Smoke Alarms and Change Batteries

Your smoke detectors need to be checked at least once a month. This means you need to hold down the test button and wait for the siren to sound. Easy, right? Bet it’s been a few months since you’ve checked! That’s ok, you’re going to get out there and test your smoke detectors today! If the siren is weak, it’s time to replace the batteries. Try lithium or long-life batteries to reduce how often you need to change them.

If the smoke detectors in your home are eight to 10 years old, experts recommend replacing the entire unit, even if it isn’t broken.

Get Smart Smoke Detectors

Now you can link your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to your smartphone! With this technology, firefighters can get to the scene fast and stop smoke and fire damage in their tracks. Ionization smoke alarms give fast warnings for flame fires and photoelectric alarms are faster at detecting smoldering fires. Try dual combination alarms for 360° protection against all types of fires.

It’s not enough to have smoke alarms, you need to put them in the right place! Keep them toward the middle of the room on the ceiling where air flows rather than at the edge of the ceiling. On vaulted ceilings, the smoke detector must be installed within three feet of the peak. Place smoke detectors three feet from a doorway into a kitchen or bathroom to reduce the chance of “nuisance alarms” going off from steam or burnt toast.

Make a Fire Escape Plan and Practice It

Map out your home on a piece of paper and identify at least two exits and then determine a safe meeting location outdoors. Practice your fire escape plan and note any doors or windows that are difficult to open so you can fix them. If your home has a second story, install escape ladders and have your children practice using them.

For more home safety tips and tricks, check out our blog at Southern Oak Insurance. We know that great home insurance policies help families survive even the worst events. Give yourself the peace of mind you deserve by safeguarding your home against fires and get a free quote to make sure you have the right insurance coverage for your home while you’re at it.

Disasters can happen at any moment – is your family ready for the worst? Our Disaster Preparedness Plan is designed to help you stay safe, calm and prepared in any situation. Download your copy today and be ready to face anything!