House fires kill. In fact, house fires kill more people every year than bush fires, despite being less ferocious. The saddest part is that, in many cases, the house fire can be prevented. It simply takes a little knowledge and willingness to act.
Of course, it is also a good idea to connect with reputable fire safety equipment suppliers to ensure you have all the fire prevention equipment that you need, that it is up to date, and you know how to use it. Your local supplier can help with this.
Here are 5 vital tips that can prevent a house fire from happening.
1. Know The Risks
The best way of preventing house fires is to make sure every person in your house is aware of what can cause a fire and how serious it can be. Talk to them all about the common causes of house fires. This will help them to realize how dangerous they are.
You can even show them videos of fire situations and the aftermath. This will help to make people think about the impact fires have on lives and ensure they take reasonable precautions all the time.
2. Fit & Test Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms don’t prevent fires. But, they should still be fitted and tested regularly. When testing use this as an opportunity to test people’s ability to get out if a fire started. Smoke alarms give you an early warning that there is a fire. While they can’t stop the fire from starting, a working smoke alarm can help you get to it while it is still small and allow you to put it out.
If not, they buy time for you and your loved ones to get out of the house.
3. Consider Flammable Items
They are an array of flammable items in your home that you may never give a second thought to. The pile of cardboard for recycling, tea towels stacked near a fire, even lawn clippings. Be aware of what materials are combustible and make sure they are not stored near any source of heat/ignition.
If possible, don’t store the items at all. That will dramatically reduce the chances of them starting a fire.
4. Never Leave Items Unattended
Most of us have left the stove unattended or a portable fire on, even if just for a few moments with no one there. Unfortunately, that is all it takes to get a fire started. You know you shouldn’t do it s make sure no one does in the future. It will reduce the likelihood of a fire starting.
5. Have Regular Electrical Inspections
Finally, electrical issues, such as overloaded circuits and bad wiring are two of the biggest causes of house fires. Have your electrics checked annually by a qualified electrician to ensure everything is safe and working properly.
You will be surprised at how easily a short circuit can turn into a fire, get the electrics checked and you will reduce the risk of starting a fire and potentially save yourself money from electrical leakage!