What are Some of the Elements of an Effective Home Fire Safety Plan?

You want to be comfortable in your own home. Part of that means feeling safe. Along with adequate security measures to prevent anyone from getting in the house without permission, it makes sense to have a plan for fire protection and safety. What goes into developing and maintaining a viable plan? Here are four elements that need to be part of the mix.

Identifying Effective Routes of Exit

One important element of your planning is how to get everyone out of the house if a fire should break out. That may mean more than simply plotting courses to get to the front and back doors. In some cases, windows may also be used as ways to get outside without having to run through smoke or areas where the fire is present.

Consider how someone would get from any room of the house to a safe point of exit. That includes the basement and the attic. If necessary, invest in fire ladders that are easy to store, but that can be connected to window sills and used to descend from upper floors. While it may seem like going to extremes, one fire is all it will take to see why a comprehensive exit plan is so important.

Having Enough Fire Extinguishers on Hand

Most homeowners keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and possibly another in some area of the home. While that’s a good start, would two really be enough if a fire broke out? A better solution is to invest in more extinguishers and place them in strategic places around the house.

That means if a fire breaks out in the hallway, someone who is in a bedroom or bathroom can use a fire extinguisher to clear a path and get to an exit without any delays. Since every second counts when you need to get away from a fire, more extinguishers reduces the risk of someone being hurt.

Being Prepared for Different Types of Fires

Not all fires can be handled in the same way. The way you would deal with a grease fire is different from what would be needed to keep an electrical fire at bay. If someone accidentally set the living room drapes on fire, methods used to contain an electrical or grease fire would not be the best options.

Educate yourself on what it takes to deal with different types of home fires. While your goal is not necessarily to put the fire out by yourself, you do want to know what can be done to keep it contained until you get out of the house and help arrives.

Having the Equipment Checked Regularly

After investing in the right fire safety equipment, don’t assume that it will remain in top condition forever. Set up an inspection schedule with a professional firm. Along with learning what you can do to check the equipment from time to time, a professional inspection ensures that those extinguishers and other safeguards are always ready for use if a situation arises.

Take the matter of home fire safety seriously. While you may be lucky to never experience a fire at home, all it would take is one round to confirm that taking reasonable measures was not time and money wasted.