You wake up coughing. A burning sensation filling your throat and your lungs feel like a thousand needles are passing their way through. Your eyes open but all you can see is black smoke for the split second before the intense stinging starts and tears fill them up. You shut your eyes because the pain is too much to take. Panic sets in as you realize your house is on fire...Do you know what to do next? What's your plan? Where's your family? Do they know what to do?
A fire is something nobody ever dreams will happen to them, but the fact is anybody can be the victim of a house fire. Fire safety is often overlooked by home owners. New houses or old houses, apartments and condos they all catch fire. Of course the best way to survive a fire is to prevent it before it happens. So, first we'll cover a few of the basics for fire prevention.
- Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly. Test them and change their batteries when you change your clocks twice a year.
- Smoke detectors should be properly installed according to manufacturers instructions and city codes. In Chicago you must have one within 15 feet of all sleeping areas and on each floor.
- Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home and have it easily accessible.
- Have your electrical system inspected and make sure you don't have any old electrical wiring that could cause a fire.
- On that same note don't overload outlets and don't run cords under anything such as rugs or furniture feet.
Those are just a few tips to increase fire safety in you home. Now, let's talk a little about what to do should you encounter a fire.
- The basics, although it may be tough you need to remain calm and think.
- Of course, it's easier to think if you have a plan in place already. Form an escape plan with your family and practice it. It's especially important if you have kids to teach them how to get out of the house.
- Make sure you have a meeting place outside of your home so you can all be accounted for.
- Remember if it is smokey you need to stay low and go. Get out of your home and to safety with the most direct route possible. Don't go back for personal belongings, they aren't worth dying for.
- If you have to open a door, feel the door and the handle, if it's hot don't open it.
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Use the PASS acronym. Pull (the pin)- Aim (the extinguisher) - Squeeze (the handle)- Sweep (at the base of the fire). Only try to use fire extinguishers on small fires that the extinguisher is rated for.
- If you live in a multistory building, consider buying safety escape ladders for the bedrooms so you can climb to safety. Of course this only works for buildings a few stories high.
Hopefully with a little forethought and preparation, should the tragedy of a fire hit your home, you and your family will be able to get out without injuries. Remember you need to be prepared ahead of time, fire safety is something that you should not wait to start.
Comments(0)