FRS attended over 557 thousand fire-related incidents between April 2019 and March 2020, which claimed 243 lives. You can do something timely to control the fire when you are awake, but most of these accidents occurred between 10 pm and 6 am when everyone was asleep.
Source: Statista
This means that we should prepare our family members as well as our houses to avoid such unpleasant incidents. This article briefly discusses some useful tips to decrease the likelihood of house fires and properly deal with them.
- Install Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors alarm you even when you are asleep or not at home. It’s better not to rely on your senses to detect if something is burning. It could be too late by the time you will smell something burning or see smoke.
Houses without smoke detectors are likely to suffer more damage from the fire. They warn everyone in the house and even set off a fire sprinkler in the room where they detect smoke; if you spend extra on fire safety.
- Buy Fire Extinguishers
You need something to get rid of the fire immediately when you detect it. It spreads really fast inside the house because there is usually a lot of wood and fabric. It’s better to buy fire extinguishers and place them where they can be easily accessed. Running to the washroom or kitchen and filling a bucket of water is nearly not enough to control fire, so it’s better not to rely on it.
- Ensure Windows are Not Jammed
Make sure everyone in the house can easily open and close all windows in the house. Windows are a fast way out of a room or the house. It could cost a life if a window is jammed in an emergency situation. Check all of them and repair or replace them if needed.
- Make it Easy to Find Your House
First of all, make sure every adult and kid in the house knows the number 999 to contact the local fire station. Next, take measures to ensure your house is easy to find for the fire brigade.
Every family member should know how to describe the location of your house. Furthermore, write your house number in big letters at a place where it can be easily seen from the street; it’s something every fire department wishes you knew.
- Monitor Gas Leakage
Natural gas is deadly and odourless. It can cause blasts and spread very fast without anyone noticing. The government adds a smell in it, so it’s easier to detect.
There are also other types of threats in the world than just fire. Consider getting large pistol reloading primer for home to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Check all pipes and appliances connected to the gas to look for leakages. All pipes and connectors should be replaced if they appear worn out.
Furthermore, everyone in the house should know the smell of the gas. Tell them to inform others and run out of the house as soon as they smell the gas. One little spark or cigarette can start a big fire if there is gas spread around you.