Keep Your Home Safe from Fire

It is somewhat surprising that most people only think about fire alarms when it comes to fire safety. Well, if you are interested in keeping your home safe from fire, all you need to do is follow a few simple guidelines. It's really not all that hard, though it does take a bit of effort on your part. Here are some of the basic guidelines that you can begin implementing today, and thereby create a much safer home environment for you and your family.

• Limit electrical use. One of the leading causes of fires in the home is overloading the electrical outlets in the home. Limit the number of electrical items that you use from a single outlet. If you do end up needing to use a power strip of some sort, make sure that it is one of those that have a built in circuit breaker or surge protector. That way if there is some kind electrical problem, you can limit or reduce the chances of a fire.
• Check your cords. Periodically check the cords of all your electrical items to ensure that they are in good working condition. Frayed or damaged electrical cords can often spark, over heat, or both. If that happens, you can run the risk of having a fire start.
• Be cautious if you smoke. If you smoke, limit your smoking to the outdoors and properly dispose of any remains. For those that do smoke inside, never smoke while in bed, and never sleep with a light cigarette or cigar. Ensure that you empty your ashtrays regularly, and that all embers are out before you dispose of them.
• Develop an escape plan, and practice. Have you ever noticed that hotels, and other similar establishments, all have a fire escape plan listed in their rooms? You should take the time to develop something similar for you and your family. This plan should also include a meeting place that you will all gather at once you are outside. With the plan developed you and your family should practice it a few times, so that everyone knows what to do in case of emergency.
• Get some detectors. Get good, high quality smoke detectors for your home. The best ones that you can get don't just detect smoke, but also carbon monoxide. Install them in high traffic areas (such as hallways and stairways), but also in every room of the home.
• Fire extinguishers are a must. Every home should have at least two fire extinguishers, one of which is kept in the kitchen. In the event of a smaller fire, or if you can catch the fire early enough, a fire extinguisher can help ensure that you either stop the fire, or are able to get out of the home safely.
• Check them regularly. Regularly check your fire extinguishers and detectors to see that they are in good working order. On the average, you should test your detectors monthly to ensure that the batteries are in good working condition, and your extinguishers should be recertified every year.

These are only a few of the available methods for keeping your home safe from fire. One way that you can definitely ensure that your home is as fire safe as possible is to have it inspected by your local fire departments. They can point out any additional locations that need to be brought up to snuff, and give you much more personalized advice for your particular home.