All throughout the United States, experts estimate that a residential fire occurs, on average, every sixty-six seconds. Because of such occurrences, one civilian dies from a fire about every two hours, and at least one fire-related injury occurs every eighteen minutes.
Fire safety is something that’s easy to not think too much about, and it can be a very risky thing to ignore. If you want to protect your loved ones and belongings from the dangers of a potential fire to the best of your ability, here are four great tips to help you get started:
Keeping things clean is always essential, but depending on the electronic or appliance (especially the big ones, like washers and dryers, or the stove), it is always recommended that you have a professional, like those from Royalty Plumbing and Gas, take a look.
If you see any signs of frayed wiring, have them repaired or replaced immediately, because electrical fires are extremely common. Especially if you have pets or small children, make sure all of the electronics in your home are in good shape and operating to the manufacturer’s standards.
It would also be a good idea to make it a habit of turning off all electronics before leaving the house. This will decrease the risk of your house catching on fire while you’re gone due to what many call a “freak accident” where a fuse or wire sparks.
Another common cause for house fires is people simply not being aware how to store certain things, or where not to store certain things. Experts say you should never store anything near the furnace or water heater, and to keep your water heater at 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit (or 48-54 degrees Celsius) at all times.
Always keep hazardous chemicals in their original containers, and flammables such as gasoline should be stored in a tight, metal container. Always keep flammables far away from radiators, and really any appliance that gives off heat for that matter.
In the bathroom, make sure beauty appliances, like blow dryers and hair straighteners, are kept far away from water, and be careful not to overload extension cords. If you’re using an older appliance, don’t keep using it if the chord is busted up (no matter how much you think you’re saving money by not just buying a new one). Typically, such tools should last between two and seven years.
It can be very tempting to get sucked into an episode of your favorite show—or even get a couple chores done—while you wait around for what feels like days for the oven to ever so slowly preheat, or that giant pot of water that wants to take its time boiling. Yet, you should resist these urges as much as possible. Bring some entertainment in the kitchen with you, such as a book or even just your phone. You could even focus on tasks that don’t require you to walk away from the kitchen, such as doing the dishes or wiping a few things down.
As for candles, don’t ever leave the house without blowing them out. To help you not forget, make sure to blow out candles after spending time in the room where the candles were lit. You could always keep a box of matches or a lighter near where you keep the candle so that you can light it back up when you come back to being around it again. Or, to make it less of a risk, you could always just switch to electronic candles.
It’s never too late to prepare for the worst. Even if you follow every precaution in the book, there is always going to be a chance of an accident happening. The average life expectancy of a smoke alarm is ten years, so be sure yours are up to date and functioning properly. Just like your appliances, don’t hesitate to call a professional if you’re unsure of anything. Fire extinguishers are recommended to be replaced every seven years.
Having your house burn down is probably one of the most terrifying experiences a person could experience. It could put a person (not to mention their entire family) into a very vulnerable situation. Arm yourself with knowledge, but also arm yourself with the best tools possible for maintaining you and your family’s safety!
Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.