Prepare for the unimaginable. Gather your family and discuss Fire Safety!
Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is National Fire Prevention Month and is the perfect time to gather your family and discuss fire safety.
Check out THIS SITE for more information on Fire Safety and how to get your family prepared.
The amount of loss that our small community suffered last year from house fires was devastating. Unfortunately, Several homes and lives were lost within a few short weeks due to fires. I knew that I needed to take action to prepare my home and my family as best as possible to prevent this from happening to us.
I have teamed up with First Alert to bring you several resources and spread awareness of fire safety month! With October being National Fire Prevention Month, what better time to gather your family and discuss fire safety.
Fact : 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Be sure to test your alarms regularly. Never remove your alarms or remove the batteries without replacing them. (Source: National Fire Protection Association).
Safety Checklist
The first step I took in making sure my family was prepared was sitting the kids down and discussing our fire safety checklist. Click HERE to get your own free printable Checklist.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level and in every bedroom of your home. We had several smoke detectors installed in our home when we first moved in, but you can never have too many!
- Test your alarms regularly. Having smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is not enough. You must make sure they are functioning properly!
- Change the batteries in your alarms at least every six months. Are you super busy and forgetful like me? Choose an alarm with a 10-year sealed battery to eliminate the need to remember to change the batteries.
- Plan and practice an emergency escape plan at least twice a year. This is probably the biggest need in our home! Both of the kids bedrooms are on the opposite side of the house of use. We need to make sure that they know how escape, WITHOUT us. As scary as that sounds, the reality is that the #1 cause of fires is unattended cooking. In our home the kitchen separates our bedrooms, so more than likely we wouldn’t be able to cross the house to get to their bedroom if we needed to. It is SO important to plan two ways out of each room/area of your home and a meeting spot, a safe distance from your home. (mailbox, neighbors home, etc.) That way everyone knows how to exit the home and where to meet. Download these FREE Jr. Fire Marshall Badges to give your kiddos after your meeting is complete.
Other Things to Consider
- Fire extinguishers should be kept on every level of the home, especially on the main level near the kitchen.(Other areas, laundry room. garage , near bedrooms, by the grill)
- Alarms don’t last forever and should be replaced every 10 years.
- Not all Carbon Monoxide Alarms require installation. Incorporate them into your decor like I did below so they are easily accessed yet blend right in!
I am so happy that we took the initiative to have this conversation with the kids and get prepared. Accidents happen at the worst time. DON’T WAIT! Get your family prepared with all the necessities from First Alert!
Itching for more Fire Safety Tips & Tricks? Visit THIS SITE for more statistics, recommended placement & more.
Thank you so much for your tips on fire safety and discussing it with your family. I live in a pretty dry area, so I think it’s doubly important for my son to know what to do in case of a fire. One thing I want to do is put a fire extinguisher in our kitchen, just in case.