The U.S. is in a state of denial. No one wants to admit that they’re at risk of falling victim to a house fire, but the fact of the matter is that over 3,400 Americans die in fires each year, with another 17,500 being injured. House fires are so prevalent that a new one starts somewhere in the U.S. once every 10 seconds.
Thankfully, there are time tested methods of preventing house fires. If you want to protect your family and your property from this very real risk, here are a few tips to help.
Smoke Alarms.
A smoke alarm is perhaps the single most important piece of fire protection equipment a family can have. These fire protection services can double a family’s chance of survival if they’re installed on every floor of the house. In order to make sure these vital assets are working properly, the fire protection handbook recommends replacing the batteries twice a year, and testing them once a month.
Fire Extinguishers.
Although it’s not entirely necessary for every house to have a fire extinguisher, it can’t hurt. Fire protection services recommend that the best place to keep an extinguisher is by the stove, since the overwhelming majority of fires start in the kitchen. Should you choose to have a fire extinguisher in your house, make sure it’s inspected by fire protection services once a year.
An Escape Plan.
Having an escape plan prepared is one of the best passive fire protection systems a family can have. Since there are so many factors and variables to account for, most fire protection services recommend that each family member have all the exits and windows memorized, so that they know where the closest exit to them is. Fire protection services then recommend that the family meet in a prearranged spot, like at a neighbor’s house or in the backyard.
So long as your house has the appropriate fire protection equipment and an escape plan, you’ll be fine. If you have any questions about fire protection services, feel free to ask in the comments. Links like this.