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You can check the smoke alarm by pressing the red button so that you can
manually activate the alarm to check it is working. To enable you to
remember to check the smoke alarms in the future then why note make a note
in your diary or circle a date on the calendar. You could do a check every
month, maybe on the last or first day.
Placing fire extinguishers on every floor is another good fire prevention
step to take along with one in the kitchen. Never buy a second hand fire
extinguisher because it may be faulty. If you buy new from a registered
stockiest then you will know it will be working fine and has passed all the
safety checks.
A fire blanket in the kitchen
is another good idea. If you place it near the doorway it can be used quite
quickly and will provide you with a easy exit should the fire get out of
control. Avoid using common towels and cloths if I fire starts in the
kitchen. This can make the fire spread and may also endanger you. It is
always best to use equipment that was made for the specific job. Fire
blankets are this equipment because they are made from fire retardant
material that will smother the fire, starving it of oxygen so it ill be
extinguished quickly.
Electrical fires are very common and generally start by faulty wiring or
overloading the sockets with a multitude of plugs. Check wiring that may be
exposed or may run under carpets. This is one of the common problems as
wiring gets damaged due to people walking on top of the carpet. Avoid having
too many electrical plus connected to one socket. Use a more powerful 5 or 6
gang socket strip that can cope with the extra load.
If you have fuses that tend to trip quite often many people make the big
mistake in thinking that their fuses are not powerful enough so they change
them to larger ones. This is a big mistake that can cause fires. The fuses
are there for a reason and will trip once excess power is being used so as
to prevent fires. Try spreading the electric you use around the home on
different electrical circuits. Water heaters can be turned on throughout the
night.
If you have children in the home then you need to ensure that you have
guards covering any real fires or gas heaters. Check that any matches or
lighters are locked away from any curious child. You can buy child resistant
lighters if security is a problem.
If you have mobile heaters then ensure that you have a space around the
heater of approximately 1-metre. Avoid placing heaters close to curtains,
clothing or furniture. Make sure the heater is stable just incase an
inquisitive child comes along. Make sure the heaters are switched off when
you leave the room for long periods.
Never keep flammable liquids inside the home. They should be kept outside in
secure containers. Many people use common petrol for cleaning specific
things and have the container inside the home. This is a big mistake so take
anything flammable outside.
Ensure your house perimeter is free from excessive garden growth and rubbish
that may be a fire hazard when dry. Check the gutters and drains of the
house to see that they are not full of leaves. This is a common problem in
Autumn.
You should always have pre-planned escape routes incase of fire. You should
make your family aware of the routes by practicing them on a regular basis.
When a fire starts you and your family will know the steps to take that will
be the quickest way to get them to safety. The escape routes will need to be
planned so that they can be implemented from all parts of the house.
If you take the necessary steps to prevent fires starting in the first place
it reduces the risk and dangers significantly. It is just a matter of taking
action and putting a little time aside to consider the worst thing that can
happen and to take precautions accordingly. Doing this will not just protect
your property and valuables it will also save the lives of you and your
family. |
