House fires claimed over 27,000 properties in the most recent year, and this figure is not something that can ever be ignored. Nobody wants to find themselves facing a fire in their property, so safety initiatives are more important than ever. The best strategy is one that focuses on prevention, so here are the top pointers that you can get started with straight away.
Ask the Professionals
The more convenient, and effective solution is to employ a professional company like Lucid Fire & Security Ltd to come, assess, and take action. By leaning on the experts, you will never have to worry about getting something wrong, missing a major red flag, or becoming a victim of a raging house fire. These services are designed to be wholly comprehensive and cover all of the necessary bases, and this is an attractive prospect indeed.
Buy Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms were created to detect and notify people of smoke inside their homes. So, if something goes wrong, and a fire breaks out, your alarms will sound. This is loud enough to wake you up, get you moving, and help you get out so that you do not risk exposure to smoke inhalation or burns. They are widely sold, worth the cost (though most smoke alarms of decent quality are not too expensive), and even easier to install.
Just make sure you have a working battery, and that you test them every few weeks to ensure they are still fully functional. You should strive to have at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the property. Preferably, one would be placed in the kitchen area where the majority of appliances tend to be, and on an upstairs landing too.
Other Fire Safety Devices
There are also a number of additional fire safety equipment pieces that you can buy that are beneficial to have at home. For example, a fire blanket and various types of extinguishers can be stored in an easy to access location like an under-the-stairs cupboard and may just save your life if something bad does happen.
Take some time for everyone in the family to learn how to use each item so that anyone can access the life-saving equipment whenever it is needed. Though, hopefully, it won’t be needed, it could be the difference between a small blaze and a major one. Things like pan fires, or even appliance malfunctions can be contained by such things, so they are arguably worth the financial investment.
Keep Fire Hazards Locked Up Tight
Children with access to things like matches or other sources of fire are at risk. If there are young people or even pets in your home, store everything of this nature in a high-up place and try to lock it away wherever possible. You never know who might get their hands on a box of matches, and all it takes is one spark to cause a whole house fire. The consequences would be catastrophic and put minors at serious risk!
Clear Your Stove Area
You may not believe it, but there have been several instances of pets like dogs or even cats turning on the stove while their owners were out and about. So, it is possible for animals to turn on your oven while you’re not at home, and if you have not cleared the area, there are several fire risks present. It would be devastating for a pet to be caught up in such an event, and it is really an avoidable situation if you declutter and secure the area.
Maintain Appliances
The main fire risks in your home are your appliances. If they are old, poorly maintained, or faulty in any way, then you may find yourself in an unwanted situation. This also means ensuring that nothing is left switched on and plugged in overnight, including phone chargers which are the number one cause of fires in domestic properties! If you are going out for the day, do not think you can get away with leaving a load of clothes in the dryer or washer, or even letting the plates and bowls go through a wash cycle in the dishwasher. It is not worth the risk.
Don’t Overload Sockets
You can have an active role in checking your sockets, for example, an overloaded plug outlet is a high-risk thing. This is a leading cause of house fires and something that is overlooked in too many homes. When a socket is overloaded, it is working too hard. This means there are too many appliances plugged into the same outlet, and the risk of overheating is strong. If there are any dodgy wires etc., a fire could break out instantly without you even knowing.
Electrical Safety Checks
It is important to have an electrical safety check every year. This means a trained professional coming to your home and assessing the fuse box, sockets, and so on in order to verify their safety and function. This will grant you peace of mind that everything is working as it is supposed to and ensure that your property is up to date regulation wise too.
Maintain Chimneys
Another leading cause of house fires is chimney neglect. If you have any log burners or other forms of open fireplace within your property, then chimney maintenance is a part of the package. While it is a wonderful source of heat, it deserves some dedicated attention and care. You can and should invest in a chimney sweeping service both before lighting your fires for the cold season, and at the end of winter too.
Have a Fire Plan
If a fire does break out, what will you do? Does everyone in the house know how to act and who to call? Have you assessed where the emergency exits could be? These are all essential facts to gather and will come together to create a document that every home should have: The Fire Safety Protocol. It won’t take long, but it will definitely save lives if a fire does happen.
Fire safety is a top priority for all homeowners. There are several things you can do to ensure your house is up to date and protected, and there is no time like the present.
