Fire Safety for Sweet Home

Fire Safety for Sweet Home

Fire in our home is one of those nightmares that we all dread. The cautious among us make sure that our home is fully protected against it. Yet accidents can happen. Yes, prevention is better than cure. But what happens when it does break out?

We should all know about the basics of fire safety and equipment. We must also regularly see to the maintenance of the equipment, including refilling of fire extinguishers. Here are some of the essential rules of fire safety in your home:

1: Get an extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is the most preferred firefighting equipment in a home. Its advantage in a home is its portability and size. You can buy different sizes of extinguisher as per your requirement and store it wherever you have a danger of flammable liquid. It can be quickly carried to any spot where a fire has broken out. It also does not require a very heavy expense or effort in installation.

The important question here is which type of extinguisher you should buy. The most common extinguishers for home are Types A, B and C. Type A is for combustibles like wood, cloth and paper — common materials found in every home. Type B is for flammable liquids, like petrol or cooking oil. This extinguisher is suitable for the kitchen and the garage. Type C is for live electricity. You should keep it near your electrical mains.

You also need to keep a track of the extinguisher use. It must be refilled after every use. You can get an agency that specialises in refilling of fire extinguishers.

2: Get fire alarm

You need a fire alarm system to ensure that everyone in the home is notified as soon as there is an incident of fire. The alarm is essential to ensure that preventive measures or evacuation can take place quickly. While an alarm does not actually help in fighting fire, it is the most important warning system in fire safety.

3: Find out fire safety infrastructure in your area

Fire spreads very quickly. So, a fire in your neighborhood puts you in immediate danger as well. If you are living in an apartment complex, find out the fire safety infrastructure in your area, such as sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire hose, wet risers, dry risers and hydrants. Find out if there is a supervisor or fire safety committee to deal with such accidents. Those living in independent homes  should check hydrant systems in place.

4: Chart an exit route

The first rule of firefighting is that you must never put yourself in any danger. If you think that it is going out of control, evacuate immediately. Members in the house, especially children must be evacuated at the first sign of a fire. To ensure that evacuations are carried out smoothly, you have to chart an exit route in advance. Make sure that the exit route is clear from every room and there are no big obstructions in the way.

5: Do a drill

Fire drills are common in schools and office. So why not for your home? It’s the best way of ensuring that everyone knows what to do in case of a fire. It also ensures that evacuation can take place without any panic.

6: Set a maintenance timetable

Some people think that buying fire fighting equipment is enough. However, that is just the first part. You need to check them periodically to see that everything is functioning properly. Check the fire alarm batteries. Check the extinguisher to see if refilling of fire extinguishers is required. Sprinklers should be assessed at regular intervals to see that these are not jammed by any debris.

7: Educate yourself and others

The best fire safety is prevention. Every member of the household must be aware of basic fire safety such as turning off the gas cylinder, treating flammable objects and liquids carefully. Older children and adults must also be taught the right way to use the house extinguisher.

From installing right equipment to undertaking maintenance and refilling of fire extinguishers, these are some of the essential fire safety measures you must take to ensure that your home and loved ones are safe and secure.