Lots of fire safety advice is simple common sense. Follow these tips and start to think about fire safety, before it’s too late.
Of all the natural disasters, fire is one of the biggest killers in America every year. It’s the same old story, ‘it won’t happen to me’, but every year it does happen, to thousands of people, and many of these deaths can be prevented with just a little forethought and following some sound fire safety advice.
Prevention is Better than Cure
The best way to fight a fire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Firefighters spend lots of time in the community teaching people how to make their homes more fire proof, and here is just some of the fire safety advice which you really ought to take notice of.
Fire Safety Advice in the Home
More than 80% of fire related deaths are in the home, especially in the winter time, and it’s mostly the young and the elderly who suffer. Be extra vigilant, there are lots of different causes for fires in the home:
- Forgetting to turn off electrical equipment and cookers
- Falling asleep while smoking
- Placing portable heaters and other heat sources close to combustibles
- Unattended open fires
Fire Safety Advice on Electrical Equipment
Many people just don’t understand electricity, beyond flicking the light switch on and off, they think it’s magic! Well, it is kind of (you sure miss it if you don’t have it for a while) but it’s also dangerous and a common cause of house fires.
- Replace any worn or frayed cords and cables
- Don’t place rugs or furniture on top of electrical cords or cables
- Don’t plug too many things into one socket (you know what I mean, have you seen behind the TV lately?)
- Don’t use light bulbs which are a higher wattage than recommended for each fixture
- Have a licensed electrician do all major repairs (and some minor ones)
- Always read and follow the instructions on electric blankets
- If in doubt, or if there’s a funny noise, smoke or smell, trip the switch and call a professional!
Fire Safety Advice for the use of Candles
Aren’t candles great? There’s nothing quite like the aroma of scented candles and the flickering of the flames to help you to relax and transport you to another place! Well, you will be transported to another place pretty darned quick if you don’t follow a few simple rules. Candles are extremely popular for mood enhancement but you won’t be in such a good mood if you burn the house down, will you?
- Never ever leave a burning candle unattended, even if it’s just for a minute.
- Make sure that all lit candles are high enough to be out of reach of children or pets.
- Never allow your children to have candles in their room, even unlit ones; you know what they’re like, the little darlings!
- Keep candles well away from furnishings, curtains etc.
- Try not to put candles in a draught, it’ll only make them burn quicker anyway.
- Make sure that candles are on a secure base, with a heat resistant mat or holder if necessary.
Follow this fire safety advice, there is loads more too, but you know what? Lots of it is just common sense. Think about it, or you (or your family) could be the next statistic.
