While there are few things as cozy or romantic as a nice night inside by a fire in the fireplace, when you find fires elsewhere in the home, they are nothing short of terrifying. The speed with which they can move through a structure makes them not only scary but very dangerous as well. Having a fire alarm installation done is one way to deal with the threat of a fire but that is what you need to help once a fire has started. There are also things you can do to prevent a fire from starting in the first place. Here are some things you can do to protect your family and your belongings from a fire.
- Be careful when you cook. It should come as no surprise that a great many fires start in the kitchen and around outside cooking spots. The one main drawback to frying a turkey is the fire than can be started during the process. A main risk factor in the start of fires in the kitchen or outdoor cooking are is leaving the food that is being cooked alone. Never do this. Even if you have to run away from the stove for a few seconds, you should turn it off first. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends never cooking when you are sleepy, have taken prescription drugs or have consumed alcohol. Keep miscellaneous items away from the top of your stove when you are cooking.
- Never leave small space heaters on when people are not in a room. If you are using a space heater to heat a smaller space, when you leave it, again even for just a few short seconds, you should turn it off. You need to keep a space, that measures three feet, pf clear space around the space heater. Never go to sleep in another room when you have one of these heaters. Even the best fire alarm installation cannot protect your stuff if you let your kids and pets play around a space heater. People and pets can also suffer pretty bad burns from these kinds of heat sources so be careful.
- Keep an eye on your cords and wires. Today’s world has a lot of cords. You have power cords and others all over. It is important to keep an eye on your power cords to make sure they do not become cracked or damaged. Cracked or damaged power cords can start fires. It is easy for these to become damaged as they are often bent into different positions that cause the plastic to crack and the wiring inside to fray. These are inexpensive to replace so make sure you get new ones when the ones you have are getting older.
- Use LED candles rather than the real thing. Fire protection services recommend people make the switch from real candles with flames to LED candles without flames. The LED versions look great, last longer and you will not need to worry about your fire alarm installation when you use LED candles. They have advanced a lot over the last few years and they look amazing. If you are going to use the real wax candles, make sure you do not leave them alone, just like the stuff on the stove and the space heater, fires can happen when you leave the room. Make sure you keep all other items at least 12 inches away from the flames from your real candles.
- Make sure your fire alarm maintenance is up to date. After you have your fire alarm installation done, you should not just leave it and forget it. You need to make sure your smoke detectors, fire sprinklers and and the fire prevention and protection devices you have in your home work the way they are supposed to. Test everything on a regular basis and change the batteries as needed and recommended.
Fires is scary but you can take steps to protect yourself, your family and your stuff from damage. In addition to having that fire alarm installation done and fire sprinkler services company to help, get insurance for your home and make sure everything is working. Check, test and replace as needed to keep everyone safe and sound.