Photo: Peter Hill via CC BY 2.0
Preventing fires at home should be a priority for everyone. Former SLC PD chief Chris Burbank talks about how you can be aware of fire safety in your home. Plus, how to keep loved ones protected in the event of an emergency.
Here are 5 things to remember about fire safety in your home:
The smoke detectors in your house are vital to your safety in the event of a fire-related emergency. Here are a few things you can take into consideration with your smoke detectors. Install the right number of smoke alarms, and make sure they are in areas where fires could start like laundry rooms, furnace rooms, and kitchens. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least twice a year. The best way to remember to do that is to change the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time. Plus having a fire extinguisher handy in case of small fires is a great idea as well. Make sure you have an all-purpose fire extinguisher so there is a better likelihood that you’ll be able to extinguish the flame.
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Most people should know the stop, drop, and roll technique, but it never hurts to do a little refresher course. If for any reason you ever catch on fire, first STOP. Don’t run if your clothes catch on fire. Then DROP to the floor and cover your face with your hands to protect it from the flames. Rollover back and forth to smother the fire. Don’t stop until the flames have been extinguished.
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If there is a fire in your house, always remember that warm air and smoke rises. This means that the closer you are to the ground, the less likely you are to breathe in a much smoke. Smoke can damage your lung in just a few minutes, and some of the other elements in the smoke if can be toxic if breathed in.
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Ensure that everyone in your house knows two ways to escape from every room of your home. If your home has multiple levels having foldable ladders can be a good idea so you can safely exit your house. Before you try and walk out your front door, feel the door. If the door is hot during a fire don’t go through it! You may have to go through a window instead. And make sure you know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
Being prepared for a fire is really your best best. XFINITY Home provides integrated wi-fi smoke and fire detecting solutions that you can access in or out of your home. Check out XFINITY Home today for more ways you can protect your home from fire and crime.
