Fire Safety In Your House Starts With A Plan

26 July, 2010

The last thing you want to discover at the onset of a house fire is that no one knows what to do. Being unprepared is one of the leading causes of fire-related injuries and deaths. Taking the time to teach your family the basics of fire prevention and other security tips and escape from your house will create an emergency preparedness plan that can directly lead to lives saved in the event you and your family are ever caught in a house fire.

The leading cause of residential fires is cooking. In fact, cooking accounts for nearly 30% of all house fires. In many cases, oil has overheated in a hot frying pan. When hot oil grease catches fire many homeowners either panic and do nothing, or do the wrong thing like trying to douse the fire with water. Of course water and oil don't mix, and in turn the water actually causes the oil fire to spread. Place a lid on the pan that is on fire is one of the most effective ways to control the fires. Also, salt, flour, or baking soda will also contain the fire. No kitchen, however, should be without a fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers are really great for the immediate action required by most small kitchen fires. Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher is one of the first things you will want to teach everyone in your family. They are simple to operate, and even younger children can effectively put out a small kitchen fire if they've been properly trained. Also, the fire extinguisher in your kitchen should be easy to locate, and within reach of anyone in the house who might be expected to use it. Don't place it on a high shelf if younger children have been trained on it and could reasonably be assumed to know how to extinguish a fire.

It’s important for you and your family to know how to put out a small fire, because within a few seconds they can actually get out of control. The proper use of a fire extinguisher can save lives and property, but training is the key. If you are not sure how to use one, you can actually purchase an inexpensive extinguisher and use it in your backyard or other open space. You'll get a feel for how powerful it is, how far it will spray, what the chemicals look like upon discharge, and how much time you've got until it's been emptied.

Teaching your family what to do in the event of a house fire will ensure that no one panics and people aren't stumbling over each other in their attempt to flee to safety. Additionally, a monitored ADT home security system, complete with smoke detectors, is a great way to protect your home and family against the threat of a house fire.