Consider this scenario: It’s three o’clock in the morning and you and your family are fast asleep when you are awakened by the loud wails of an alarm and the intense smell of smoke. What do you do? Are you and your family prepared?
Fires can happen quickly and without much notice, which is why every second counts. Creating a fire strategy, reviewing fire prevention materials, and checking fire safety devices are all critical to ensuring that you and your family are able to escape safely in event of a fire. In honor of Fire Prevention Week, HHS’ experienced facilities management team shares important plans and procedures that everyone should incorporate into their household to be proactive in protecting their family from a fire emergency.
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Perform monthly battery checks on all your smoke detectors by:
- Pressing the test button found on the front of the alarm
- If test fails, replace batteries
- Test again to ensure the device is functioning properly
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Consider upgrading your system to electronic smoke detectors that:
- Send alerts to your mobile device
- Contain 10-year batteries
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Create an emergency plan in case of fire by:
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- Establishing an escape route and plan for the entire family
- Communicating the plan and discussing it in detail
- Practicing the escape route regularly
- Placing fire extinguishers in easy to access locations
- Review a safety guide with your children
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Check items that are more likely to cause a fire before leaving the house and make sure they are turned off, unplugged, or extinguished including:
- Stove and oven ranges
- Hair straighteners, blow dryers, and curling irons
- Toasters
- Electric blankets
- Clothes dryers
- Space heaters
- Candles