Protect Your Home from a Fire Today

Protect Your Home from a Fire Today

October 3-9 is national Fire Prevention Week and it’s the perfect time to practice your family’s fire safety plan. Take time to clear flammable materials and make sure you have working smoke detectors and a monitored carbon monoxide alarm system to help protect your family from home fires.

Carbon monoxide and monitored smoke alarm systems are the most important tools to help protect your family from home fires. More than 60 percent of deaths from home fires happened in homes that either had no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every floor of your home and inside every bedroom. A monitored carbon monoxide alarm system is essential because carbon monoxide gas is the “silent killer” – it is odorless, tasteless, colorless and toxic. CO gas can cause fatigue, dizziness, unconsciousness and possibly death if undetected.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), one out of three home fires starts in the kitchen. Remember to always stay in the kitchen while cooking and keep things that are flammable, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags and curtains at least three feet away from the stove top while cooking.

To help prevent fires from starting outside your home, maintain your landscape and clear away brush and dead vegetation that could catch fire, especially if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires.

These are just a few crucial things to remember to help protect your home and family from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.