5 Fire Safety Tips for Families
October 21, 2019This post was sponsored by Kidde Fire Safety as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
As a mom, nothing is more important to me than protecting my family at home. Did you know that October is National Fire Prevention Month? This means that now is the perfect time to address some basic fire safety tips in and around the house. After all, the most important moment in a home emergency may very well be the moment you take today to prepare for such an emergency. When it comes to fire safety essentials, we’ve always relied on Kidde products, including smoke & carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers. Today I’m sharing five tips you can implement to make your home safer for tomorrow.
1. Install Kidde Alarms
Nowadays we spend so much time in the house. It’s where we eat, where we play, where we gather, where we laugh…it’s where we live!
A shocking statistic I recently learned is that roughly 3 out of 5 fire fatalities occur in homes with no smoke alarms (or in homes with non-working smoke alarms.) We installed Kidde Smoke Alarms on every level of the home, including outside every sleeping area. Taking a few minutes to think about fire safety today can help prevent a lifetime of worry in the future. Outfitting your home with working smoke alarms (and other fire safety devices) from Kidde is a smart move. Oh, and don’t forget to replace the batteries at least once per year; if your alarms are hard-wired, replace the backup battery at least once per year. I have talked to Sophia many times about what to do in case of a fire; empowering her with knowledge is very important to me.
Just last week, I picked up a new Kidde Smoke Alarm from Walmart. Did you know that Kidde is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of fire safety devices, safeguarding homes & businesses from the effects of fire for over 100 years? The brand has indeed stood the test of time.
Kidde smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are a valuable addition to our home, as they help prevent injuries (and reduce property damage) by alerting people to fire dangers earlier. Our home is our sanctuary and we have done so many renovations over the years. Protecting our family and our property is of utmost importance to me. I appreciate that Kidde Smoke Alarms are sleek and elegant, blending in nicely with our decor.
Protect what matters today! With the fire safety devices from Kidde, you are investing in a safer home, as well as more peace of mind for the family.
2. Discuss a fire escape plan
Every family should have a fire escape plan in place. The general goal is to get everyone out of the house in under two minutes. Make a plan with at least two ways out of every room. Put your plan in writing and practice it regularly. During an emergency, adrenaline will be sky-high and thinking clearly will be nearly impossible. Part of your plan should be to designate a specific location outside that is a good distance away from the home. Once out of the home, call 911. While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47% of those have practiced. Don’t be part of that statistic; create a plan and practice it.
3. Be cautious with flammable sources
Space heaters can be incredibly dangerous if not used responsibly. Always keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and turn them off when you leave the room. Supervise young children when the heater is turned on as the heater can burn little hands. If using gasoline-powered devices (a generator, for example,) keep the gasoline in a locked location that is inaccessible to children. Also, it’s a good idea to keep only the quantity of gasoline that you need (not any more.)
4. Use common sense in the kitchen
Did you know that cooking equipment is the top cause of home fires? When cooking, avoid distractions as much as possible. Never leave a hot oven or stovetop unattended. Be especially cautious with deep fryers & other frying equipment, as these units tend to reach very high temperatures. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and make sure you know exactly how to use it.
5. Be conservative with electrical devices
If any electrical work needs to take place in your home, hire a licensed professional to do the job. Check electrical cords throughout your home and ensure that cables are not frayed or otherwise damaged. Do not let cords run across doorways or under carpets. Also, keep in mind that overloading an outlet can be dangerous so limit the number of plugs in an outlet or power strip.
Don’t forget to learn more about Kidde Fire Safety systems to keep your home safer. Purchase Kidde smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers at Walmart!
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My husband was a firefighter for years, so thankfully he is pretty on top of our fire safety! Loving all of your tips.
This are some great tips. Our smoke detectors are hardwired but I am going to have my husband change the back up batteries today.
Fire safety is so important. I make sure my kids know how to get out if there’s a fire and we check our alarms. I try to be careful in the kitchen, but I am a terrible cook. Thank goodness for the fire alarm in there 😉
It’s always a great idea to be prepared for any emergency. You’ve got just the right tips to help get organized.
We just tested the smoke detectors about a month ago. My kids know that in the event of a fire to go out the nearest exit even if it means climbing out the window. We also have two fire extinguishers under the sink.
Fire safety is such an important thing, I remember never really thinking about it until we were taught at school how to make a plan by some firemen. I have always remembered their advice for some reason. We are lucky here that it would be very easy to get out should the worst happen.
It is so important to be prepared for anything, including a house fire. We have so many smoke alarms and always make sure that they are in good working condition.
This is a great post. I am trying to make sure my kids know that safety in the kitchen is key especially since they are learning to cook by themselves
These Fire Safety Tips are really essential for all families. We really need to make sure the safety of our loved ones. This Kidde Smoke Alarm sounds amazing. I will definitely check this one out
I cannot commend you more with what you have done. Having this example to your kids makes them more cautious about things like this. Definitely a must have.
Great tips! Having smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the house is very important. We have them all over the house and my husband checks the batteries regularly.
I think these are some really good tips. It’s so important to teach everyone about fire safety. I have always taught this to my kids, and it’s probably a good idea I remind them again.
I just spent the weekend putting smoke detectors in with the Red Cross. We went door to door installing them for free. I was shocked to see how many houses didn’t have working smoke detectors! So dangerous.
That sounds like a great product to keep family safe! We have smoke alarms installed.
Such great tips and such a good reminder! I need to do this with my family!
These are great tips, fire safety tips is important. I need to do this with family.
These are great tips!! Alarm always a great way to protect kids in emergency situation. I print out phone numbers and I know my kids could use a print out with emergency numbers, so easy to rely on smart phones to be programmed.