HOME FIRE SAFETY GUIDELINES ARE IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW
Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, escape route must be part of the plan
While it's vital to pay attention to the big-picture threats to human safety happening right now, it's just as important to think about potential dangers in the home, especially given that we're spending more time there.
Too many Canadian households are, for example, ignoring easy-to-follow home fire safety guidelines. Some 44 per cent don't have a fire escape plan, and of the 56 per cent that do, just one in five families practise it the recommended twice a year, according to a national survey by First Alert, which makes and sells home gas and fire safety detectors, fire extinguishers and other safety products.
According to the National Fire Information Database, 80 per cent of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms, often because of missing alarm batteries or expired alarms. (I like that First Alert smoke and CO alarms have 10-year sealed batteries.)
I've been working with First Alert to raise awareness of home fire safety because having fire extinguishers — and knowing how to use them — can save lives.
Right now, just 63 per cent of Canadian homes have fire extinguishers throughout the house. Half of all homeowners have never operated one and 70 per cent say they would not be very comfortable doing so, according to the Fire Equipment Manufacturers' Association.
To address that obstacle, First Alert developed the EZ Fire Spray, a lightweight spray can that's easy to store and use. There are no pins to pull or levers to squeeze, you just point and spray. The contents cover a wide surface area, up to three times that of typical fire extinguishers, with a liquid that's effective on paper, fabric, wood, cooking oil and electrical fires, which are all common sources of household fires. Single-use, they sell for about $20 at Canadian Tire and other retailers.
There's also the rechargeable HOME1 extinguisher. It can be used on wood, paper, fabric, flammable liquid, and electrical fires, and has simple instructions on a chemical-resistant, waterproof label on the extinguisher. It has a user-friendly metal pull pin with a safety seal that deters accidental discharge and discourages tampering, and it comes with a mounting bracket and strap. The unit can be recharged by a certified professional if used. About $33.
Make sure extinguishers are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and keep an eye on expiration dates.
It's no use having a fire extinguisher if you can't get your hands on it when it matters.
Keep one at the very least on every level of the home and on the main level near the kitchen. Consider having extra units in the basement, garage, laundry room, near bedrooms, patio or grill areas, and anywhere flammable materials are stored, like a workshop or tool shed.
Fire extinguishers are not appropriate in all situations. They are best for small fires or those contained in, say, a cooking pan or a wastebasket.
If the fire is too large, the air is unsafe to breathe, it's too hot/ smoky, or your escape path is blocked, safe evacuation should be the primary goal. Get everyone out, and wait for the fire department.
Like any good tool, a fire extinguisher should fit the hand that's going to use it. Choose one that's large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy that you can't handle it easily.
Extinguishers are a simple and affordable way to keep your family safe from fire. For more on what types are suitable for which situations, go to my website at www.aroundthehouse.ca.
This is the perfect time to make a commitment to better home fire safety: National Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 4 to 10.
Educate yourself at www.nfpa.org, where there's a ton of useful information and tips to keep you safer at home.