Did you know that in 2002, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the U.S. every 19 seconds? (Source: "Fire Loss in the United States During 2002," NFPA)
Through simple precautions, many of these fires are preventable:
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking.
- Keep portable and other space heaters at least three feet away from things that can burn.
- Keep matches and lighters out of sight and out of reach of children.
- Keep smoke alarms clean (vacuum to remove dust and never paint over smoke alarms) and test regularly.
- Store flammable chemicals safely and out of the living area.
- Have working, portable fire extinguishers in or near the kitchen, laundry room, workshop, fireplace and anywhere fire could be a danger.
- Do not use light bulb wattage that is too high for the fixture.
- If a circuit breaker trips or a fuse blows often, immediately cut down on the number of appliances on that line.
- Do not use extension cords with electrical space heaters.
- Strike your match before turning on the gas in a fireplace.
- Have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season.
- Draw and practice a fire escape plan (see below).
The how-to’s of an escape plan!
Knowing how to escape your home in a fire can be difficult. Smoke and fire can disorient you, making you a stranger in your own home. Having an escape plan will help:
- Be neat.
- Draw a map of your home, showing and labeling every room, door and window.
- Show two exits out of each room.
- Make sure the exits are not blocked.
- Choose, then draw an outside meeting place.
- Write your fire department’s emergency number on the map.
- Practice your escape plan on a regular basis.
Do You Have A True Guardian Life Safety Story?
If you had an incident in which your Guardian Protection Services security system prevented damage or harm, or was especially helpful, we’d like to hear from you! Just complete the form below, and if we use your story, you'll receive a special gift from Guardian.
