Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke and a fire alarm blaring. You’re unsure if your family has awoken as well, and your mind races, wondering how much time you have to get yourself and your loved ones out of the house safely.
Unfortunately, this is a very real scenario that could occur in any home. But you can avoid a scenario such as this if you only follow a few key safety tips and also make the rest of your family aware of the possible risks that could cause a fire.
Start by following the rules below:
#1 – Take Care When Using Candles
While candles are a beautiful addition to many special events, dinner tables, and holiday celebrations, they are dangerous because they are open flames. Never leave candles unattended, and keep objects like decorations and clothing far away from where candles are burning.
#2 – Always Monitor Your Cooking
Cooking is a common cause of fires in the home. Monitor your cooking at all times, especially when you are deep frying things on the stove top. Furthermore, make sure that children and pets stay away from your cooking, and keep things like curtains and aprons far away from open flames as well.
#3 – Follow Safe Grilling Procedures
Just as indoor cooking can be dangerous, outdoor cooking can be dangerous too. Make sure that grease buildup never gets out of control as this can cause spontaneous fires to occur. Furthermore, never grill too close your home, deck, porch, or overhanging trees or shrubbery.
#4 – Use Space Heaters Safely
Space heaters are useful when areas of your home don’t get a lot of heat from your furnace or heat pump. But space heaters can be extremely dangerous. This is true wherever they are used.
To avoid space heater fires, never leave space heaters unattended when they’re in use. Furthermore, make sure that an adult is always present when space heaters are being used. Finally, keep items such as furniture and curtains far away from space heaters. A three-foot radius around the space heater is best.
#5 – Clean Our Dryer Vents Regularly
Dryer vents can cause fires too. Often, the extreme heat running through these vents when you use your dryer reacts together with overloaded lint buildup, and spontaneous fires occur. To avoid this, simply clean out your dryer vents on a regular basis.
#6 – Never Overload Electrical Outlets
Electrical fires are common as well. To avoid electrical fires, consider installing ACFI outlets in your home. These will automatically shut off electricity when problems in the in-wall currents arise. Furthermore, make sure that all electrical outlets are never overloaded. Avoid using power bars, extension cords, and outlet extenders as much as possible.
#7 – Carefully Store Flammable Liquids
Lastly, consider flammable liquids that you may have in your home. They are more common than you may think. For example, paint, turpentine, and many household cleaners are extremely flammable. Keep your family and home safe from possible fires caused by flammable liquids by always storing these materials in a safe location.
No one wants to consider that a fire could occur in their home. Sadly, hundreds of fires happen in Wisconsin every year, and some of them end in serious injuries and ruined homes. Taking just a few safety steps can prevent such a disaster from occurring.
Make your family aware of the fire safety tips listed above, and for even more protection for your home and family, contact us at Couri Insurance Agency today to learn about home insurance options.
