First to Fight the Fire: 10 Proven Home Fire Prevention Tips

Keeping a fire from breaking out in your home is as much about prevention as it is about preparation. Taking the proper precautions can go a long way in helping you sleep soundly at night, knowing you’ve done everything in your power to ensure your home is safe. Here are the top 10 fire prevention tips you should use to help keep your family out of harm’s way.

1. Smart Plugins: Automated appliances can easily be shut off with the flip of a switch or time-activated, but don’t depend on it. Investing in smart plugins that allow you to remotely powe-off an appliance no matter where you are will give you greater peace of mind.

2. Electrical Health Checks: Just like you should get a physical each year, your electrical appliances need to be checked out too. You don’t need to be an expert; just look around your space for frayed or worn cords and replace them when necessary.

3. Desk Smoking: We all know smoking in bed carries a high risk for home fire, but other smoking materials, such as cigars and pipes, carry their own risk as well. Remind smokers to only smoke outside and make sure to extinguish smoking materials entirely.

4. Bulb Wattage: Pay attention to the wattage requirements for lighting fixtures, then match them accordingly; higher watt bulbs can potentially cause a fire.

5. Heaters: Winter months tend to bring an increase in electrical fires due to the additional use of heaters. Inspect the cords and replace if needed, and make sure to keep materials that are combustible clear of the heat source.

6. Extension Cord Use: Sure, it’s tempting to use an extension cord if you don’t have enough outlets in your home, but do so sparingly and take measures to protect them (a surge protector is a good option).

7. Walkthrough Check: Before you go home to bed or leave your home in the morning, do a quick walk-through and double-check that all appliances and heat sources are turned off correctly.

8. Install Smoke and Fire Detectors: Be sure to have at least one smoke and fire detector installed in any room of your home and make sure everyone knows the emergency plan in the case of a fire.

9. Fire Extinguishers: Install fire extinguishers in areas like the kitchen and at least one exit of the home and make sure you know how to use them.

10. Have Regular Fire Safety Talks: Fire prevention is much easier to talk about than it is to act on, so involve the whole family and hold talks about fire safety. Teach younger family members what to do and how to handle a potential emergency.

By implementing all 10 of these fire prevention tips into your daily family life, you can significantly reduce the chances of a home fire. With a combination of prevention, safety checks, and knowing your emergency plan, your home is sure to be that much safer.