Top Home Fire Safety Tips for Families with Kids

A home fire is something we hope never happens, but most families don’t have a plan in place in case the worst does occur.  In 2009, fire departments treated more than 13,000 fire-related injuries that could have been prevented. With more than 350,000 residential fires in the United States annually, there are a number of small steps your family can take to prepare.   Top Home Fire Safety Tips   Fire in the home is a scary thought and can cause your kids to do impulsive things that may not be best. But there are ideas you can put into a plan and practice in case of a fire in your home.

1. Identify two escape routes in your home. Make sure that everyone understands where both are, in case one is blocked by flames.
2. Practice fire drills at least twice a year. It should be second nature for your family to know what to do in case of a fire. In case of a fire, decide on a meeting place outside your home so everyone in the family can be accounted for quickly.
3. Make sure to establish rules about fire in the home. Don’t assume that your children know not to play with fire.
4. Every room in your home should be equipped with a working fire detector.
5. Make sure to test each detector twice a year, and ensure that your children know what it sounds like so if it ever goes off. As simple as it sounds, make sure everyone knows “Stop, Drop and Roll”. This could be a lifesaver.
6. Children are never to play with matches, lighters, candles or any other fire starting or fuel source. Set the right example. If you don’t play with fire, your kids won’t either.
7. The most important part of fire safety is prevention. Take a few minutes to walk around the house and make sure that there are no concern areas that may lead to issues later on.
8. Make sure all flammable liquids, including cleaners are stored outside of the home, out of reach of children. Have one fire extinguisher for every 1,000 square feet of living space. Clarify that all family members know where they are located and how to operate them.
9. Never leave burning candles or the stove unattended while in use.

Preventing a fire depends on your proactive, not reactive, approach. When it comes to preventing fires, get the entire family involved. If everyone knows the plan and preventative measures, not only will you avoid a home fire, you’ll also instill a sense of responsibility in your kids.

Monitored Fire Detection Devices Most reputable alarm companies (FrontPoint included) recommend at least one monitored smoke/heat sensor for every system they sell. The main reason is that your standard smoke detector is really just a noisemaker. Yes, it’s much better than nothing, but don’t you want to know the fire department is being summoned as soon as possible? You may be away – or, much worse, overcome by smoke in your own home. That’s when you definitely want a system that quickly reaches the people who can help. Here’s a link to my previous post on monitored fire protection. FrontPoint continues to provide the latest in interactive, wireless home security, including fire monitoring for no additional monthly fee. We are members of the NFPA, and fully support their goal of protecting us in our homes and workplaces. That’s just one more reason why FrontPoint is recognized as the #1 ranked alarm company in the US.