A house fire can be devastating, it’s not something that anyone wants and yet they still happen, over 50 people die a year in Australia from house fires. The best time to prepare for a house fire is now, while you have a clear head and can implement the necessary changes to safeguard your home.
There are 5 key steps you should take today to prepare for a home fire:
Make A Plan
A fire can quickly make a house confusing, even though you think you know it so well. One of the worst things about fire is smoke, it gets into your lungs preventing you from breathing properly. It also prevents you from seeing where you’re going. To help you and your family get safely out you should create two escape routes from every room in the house and make sure every family member knows what they are. This will help everyone to get out safely regardless of where they are. Having devised the plan you’ll need to practice it. There are no limits to the number of times you can practice, to ensure all family members know what to do.
Fit Safety Devices To Your Home
The next step is to consider what fire safety devices your home has. You should have a smoke alarm on every level as this will be the first warning of an issue. It’s also a good idea to have fire extinguishers located at key points around your home. These can help you put out a small fire but never tackle a large fire with an extinguisher. You’ll also want to look at fire shutters and curtains which can help to contain a fire, buying you vital minutes to get out safely.
Ensure All Family Members Know How To Contact the Fire Service
This may seem basic but it’s important to cover it. All family members, no matter how young or old, should know how to contact the fire service. It’s not just a case of knowing the number, they need to know how to get to a phone if the cell phones are all inside the house, and you never go back into a burning building.
Get An Electrical Inspection
Faulty electrics are one of the biggest causes of house fires. You can reduce the risk by having an annual electrical inspection done. A qualified electrician will identify any wiring issues and help you to fix them, effectively reducing the risk of a fire. Don’t forget, damaged wiring can easily lead to a short circuit that creates a spark that starts a fire. Electrical inspections make sense.
Reassess
Finally, make sure you reassess your plan regularly. There is little point in relying on a plan made five years ago when your house has changed dramatically during that time. It’s essential to review your plans annually, practice, and make sure everyone knows what to do. Hopefully, they’ll never need to do it for real.
