As the weather gets cooler more people are beginning to think about using their fireplaces. This is also a great time to think about fire safety and look at your fire plan and make any necessary changes to keep this plan fresh and up to date. As family members get older this plan may need to be revised often and fire safety is a very important part of safety for the entire family.
You should make sure that you not only have working smoke detectors in your home, but also that you change the batteries twice a year. This may be different then the way it used to be when you were advised to change them only once a year. You should check your smoke detectors with the test button often to make sure that they work and sound as they should.
Your fireplace should be cleaned frequently and you should never use your fireplace without the proper tools. Your fireplace can be the source of a house fire if is not properly maintained and this is why you should make your fireplace maintenance a priority. There are many companies that will come into your home and inspect your fireplace for you and this can be a great option to consider.
If you do not have an escape plan in case of a fire emergency in your home, you should make this plan right away. Every family member needs to be present for fire drills and each family member should have an alternative escape route. Someone will need to be responsible for any pets and this may be the person nearest to where the pets sleep.
There should be a designated point where family members can meet if they are forced to escape quickly and this can be a trusted neighbor's home. This is also the place where the fire department should be contacted and no one should stay in a burning home to call the fire department. You will want to alert this neighbor of your plan just in case and they will be more prepared to help you if a fire is present and you are forced to go to this meeting location.
Fire safety is very important and as more people are using fireplaces, unfortunately more fires are bound to happen. If you have the necessary tools and a great plan you will increase the odds of escaping this type of emergency and preparation can save lives.