Fire safety tips homeowners should know

Families everywhere are taking safety concerns more seriously in the current times we live in – and one safety concern that is always a timely concern is fire safety.

As technology has developed, the safety regulations concerning fire protection have evolved alongside it. Today, it’s easier than ever to protect your loved ones from house fires – and a good thing, too, since with schooling and working from home, families are spending more time at home than ever before.

And remember: When following the latest guidelines, don’t forget that fire alarms should be installed on every floor in your house, particularly in each bedroom and immediately outside any space where family members sleep.

These days, combination smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are available, an excellent choice to protect your home. Carbon monoxide is undetectable without an alarm, since it cannot be seen or smelled, and depending on your local regulations, there are plenty of high-tech options available with 10-year batteries. And you can rest easier at night knowing you and your loved ones are safe fromfatal threats like fire, smoke and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Some contemporary alarms (both smoke and carbon monoxide) are equipped with voice and location technology. These alarms use a recorded human voice to alert household members of a threat involving fire or carbon monoxide. They also are equipped to determine where in the home the threat is located, which can enable you to determine the best, quickest route out of the house. These alarms can also be a great choice for homes with small children, as studies have shown that elementary-school-aged children tend to respond more quickly to voice alarms than beeping.

Still, it’s a good idea to teach small children exactly what smoke alarms sound like, too, so they’re prepared in the event of emergency, and taught them to stop, drop and roll if they ever experience any clothing item or anything on their person catching on fire.

National Fire Protection Association statistics indicate that three-fifths of fire deaths happen in houses without functional smoke alarms, so it’s important to both install alarms in all required locations as well as periodically replace the batteries. Dead batteries can be a real and present danger and are often involved in fire-related deaths, so checking their status monthly is vital. Ten-year alarms are a helpful new option to enable you to go longer in between replacing batteries, and cause less stress about fire safety. These 10-year sealed alarms are a convenient innovation that save lives, and are easy to install.

It’s important, too, to have an escape plan and discuss it with all family members regularly. Each person in the home should know the quickest route to get out of any room in the house, two different routes to exit the home, and a pre-planned meeting place to gather once they get outside, in the event of an emergency. Smoke inhalation can be dangerous, so it’s important to duck and go low when making your way through a smoke-filled home – remember, often, you only have two minutes or less to escape from a burning building safely. Whatever you do, get out of the house and remain out of the house – do not go back in for any reason. Once you’ve arrived outside safely, call 911. It’s a good idea to run through this plan as a two-minute fire drill with all family members regularly.

In today’s day and age, it’s not hard to be safe and protect yourself from house fire calamities. It just involves taking advantage of helpful technology, planning ahead, and communicating with loved ones to ensure that everyone’s wellbeing is at the forefront of your mind.

To learn more about safety technology for homes, visit www.firstalert.com.