According to reports by the National Fire Prevention Association, between 2005 and 2009, firefighters responded to over 373,000 residential fires. These fires caused over 2,600 deaths, over 12,800 injuries, and over $7.1 billion in home damages. There is no absolute way to prevent fires from ever happening to your home, but there are several ways that you can protect yourself, your family members, and your home from serious fire damage.
Make sure that your family and your home are better protected in the event of a fire by following this list of residential fire safety suggestions:
- Educate your family. Knowing about what to do if a fire ever does happen in your home is the first step to protecting your family in an emergency. Teach your family proper fire safety practices, such as: feeling closed doors and door handles for heat; proper stop, drop, and roll techniques; and how to prevent smoke inhalation by crawling on the floor or using a shirt as a smoke screen.
- Check your smoke alarms. Fire alarms are your first defense when it comes to alerting you about a residential fire. You cannot just simply rely on yourself or other people in your family to smell smoke from a fire. By making sure your fire alarms are in good, working condition, you can ensure that you and your family will be alerted promptly if a fire does occur in your home.
- Have the proper fire safety equipment. Small fires can easily be stopped from turning into larger, more destructive ones by having the right equipment on hand. Items such as fire blankets or fire extinguishers can prevent small fires from spreading and damaging your home.
