Fire safety is one of those things that we’ve been taught since we were kids. Some of us had local fire department demonstrations at school, and we were given some really valuable information. Many of us have seen movies or tv shows in which characters are faced with home fire tragedies, but we don’t necessarily learn and practice better home fire safety because of it. Even when the causes are explained and the consequences are evident, most of us really don’t go out of the way to prevent fires in our homes.
Why Is Home Fire Safety Important?
More than 350,000 home fires are recorded annually in the United States, resulting in more than 13,000 injuries and fatalities, according to the National Fire Protection Association. With statistics like these, it’s crucial that your employees understand the importance of fire prevention and develop good habits for home fire safety.
It’s important to keep employees safe on the job as well as at home. It’s tough to do that since you can’t be around all of the time, but you can educate them to give them the tools to make smarter decisions when it comes to safety. Before we dive into the tips here is a home fire safety checklist to get you started.
13 Safety Tips
With these quick Home Safety tips for your employees, fires can be prevented and thousands of injuries can be avoided.
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Install fire alarms on every level of your home, in bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
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Test smoke alarms every month. Mark it on your calendar!
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Create and discuss a fire escape plan with everyone in the home.
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If a fire occurs, get out as quickly as possible and stay out.
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Ensure that windows are not stuck or blocked and can be opened in an emergency.
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Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking.
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Learn how to properly use and maintain fire extinguishers.
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Stay in the kitchen while cooking to supervise heat and flames.
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Position outdoor grills at least 10 feet from the house or other structures.
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Smoke cigarettes outdoors only, and extinguish butts thoroughly.
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Replace all damaged cords.
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Keep all objects at least 3 feet away from portable heaters.
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Never leave flames unsupervised (including fireplaces and candles).
Additional Resources
There are a number of free online resources available for fire safety education and response:
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The Red Cross provides concise information on preventing, dealing with, and recovering from home fire incidents. Short videos walk you through the points and illustrate key points. Their free app for kids, Monster Guard, educates users on best practices in the event of an emergency.
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Ready.gov, the official website of the Department of Homeland Security, explains in detail about common daily activities and items that can create hazards and some best practices. Kids’ resources are also available, including games to practice emergency planning and response actions.
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The National Fire Protection Association has created safety tip sheets for a wide range of fire hazards in the home. These PDFs are especially helpful around specific holidays and seasons, and even for certain areas that employees live in.
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