Fire Prevention Month

10/4/2019 (Permalink)

October is Fire Prevention Month; which is why it's a perfect time to reexamine your emergency preparedness plans for your home or business. But do you have a fire escape plan? If you don't already have a fire escape plan, now is a great time to make one. In addition to a plan, you can also help prevent extreme damages from fire by changing your smoke alarm batteries. This is because the extent of damage can be limited if a fire is caught quicker.

According to the NFPA, once your smoke alarm starts going off, you have less than 1 or 2 minutes to escape your home safely. However, only 8% of surveyed people said their first thought was to leave the home after hearing a smoke alarm. In this way, creating and practicing an emergency fire plan could save your family's lives. By having a plan, those 1 to 2 minutes can be utilized to achieve the best possible outcome.

Here are some tips to prevent fire from happening in the first place:

• Do not leave stoves, ovens, toasters, irons, or candles unattended.
• Do not play with fire whether indoors or outside.
• Check electric appliances for frayed or damaged cords. Replace or fix when necessary.
• Keep bonfires a good distance from any structures.
• Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries and are functioning properly.

For information on fire safety, feel free to call us at (563) 386-3540.