Exclusive Fire Safety Tips This Thanksgiving Holiday
Fire Safety Tips that Go Beyond the Kitchen Thanksgiving is a delicious time of year in which we give special attention to the many things that we are thankful for. It’s also a time in which we must be extra vigilant about fire risks and safety so that those people and things that we love are protected. Fortunately, there are fire safety tips that you can take to ensure that your home is safe during this chaotic and joyful time without adding too much to an already very long to-do list. These are also measures that can protect you, your family, and your home year round. Protect Yourself Against Fire, Flood & CO Every Day! But First, A Look at Some Numbers Before we get into the tips, it’s good to get a solid understanding of why you need to make extra sure that you prevent a Thanksgiving fire, which will help you prevent a fire at any time. The U.S. Fire Administration published a report on Thanksgiving fires in residential buildings from 2014 to 2016 and this is what they found: For every year (2014, 2015, and 2016), there were approximately 2,400 residential fires reported to U.S. fire departments on Thanksgiving day, which caused $19 million in property loss in addition to the 25 injuries and 5 deaths. There are 1.8 Thanksgiving Day fires per 1,000 fires compare to 5.8 non-Thanksgiving Day fires per 1,000 fires. There are 11 injuries per 1,000 Thanksgiving fires compared to 25.7 injuries per 1,000 non-Thanksgiving fires. $7,800 is the average loss per fire compared to $17,560 for non-Thanksgiving Day fires. Multifamily dwellings account for 32.1% of Thanksgiving Day fires. One- and two-family dwellings account for 62.6% of Thanksgiving Day fires, while the remaining 5.3% is reserved for other types of homes. Thanksgiving fire alarm numbers begin to increase at 7:00 a.m. and peak from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 77% of Thanksgiving fires are limited to the object of origin, which means it is contained where it begins. However, this doesn’t minimize the extent of injury. Cooking is responsible for 76.5% of Thanksgiving fires. The Difference You can see that Thanksgiving fires follow a different pattern than fires that happen randomly during the rest of the year. Understanding what makes Thanksgiving fires unique can help you prevent them. However, don’t let the fact that Thanksgiving fires cause fewer deaths or injuries per 1,000 fires lower your guard. After all, Thanksgiving is just one day a year—and nearly 3,000 fires on that single day is still a lot. Fire Safety Tips to Keep You Safe on Thanksgiving Let’s review some quick fire safety tips. First, install and maintain working smoke alarms. These alarms detect smoke or fire anywhere in your home all year round, helping you contain fires and stay safe. Next, place a fire extinguisher near your stove and oven. Before cooking, check that the extinguisher works properly. Finally, avoid wearing long, loose sleeves while cooking because they can easily catch fire. Some other tips: Never leave cooking food unattended. While it might be tempting to make a quick trip to the grocery store, have another adult watch the kitchen or send them on the errand instead. Also, keep kids away from the kitchen when you’re cooking a big meal. Sharp objects and hot surfaces aren’t safe for little ones. Next, turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so they don’t sit over burners. Watch where you place towels, too—keep them away from burners to avoid fires. If a fire starts, your 24/7 monitored security system will alert the authorities. If you don’t have a system yet, call 911 right away. For grease or oil fires, never throw the contents outside. Instead, put a lid over the flames to smother them and turn off the heat. Keep the lid on until the pan cools. For oven fires, keep the door closed and turn off the heat. This cuts off oxygen and helps smother the fire. Don’t open the door—that lets the fire grow. Finally, keep baking soda nearby to put out food fires. Avoid using flour or water because they can make the fire spread or react violently. Contact An Expert Rochester Fire Alarm Company By keeping the above fire safety tips in mind, you should have a much safer Thanksgiving. If you don’t have an alarm system that can detect smoke or fire anywhere in your home, SPS Fire & Security has some great options that will help you protect your family and your home. Call us for more information at 585-770-0348. Happy Thanksgiving! Â
Ultimate February Home Safety Checklist: Stay Warm & Secure
A Home Safety Checklist You Can Use Year Round Every year, we make resolutions like helping others or losing weight. However, some people forget about home safety. This is an important resolution, and it’s not too late to make it, as the year is still early. With a good home safety checklist, you can get through even the harshest part of winter. Below, you’ll find a home safety checklist you can use in February and year-round to make your home as secure as possible. Bedrooms and Other Living Spaces Practice an emergency plan with your family and create escape routes for everyone. Run through this escape route at least once a month so everyone knows it well. Make sure you have flashlights with working batteries in every storm kit. This way, you’ll be ready if snow or a general power outage knocks out your power. Hallway Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. If you have a home security system, remember that many include built-in detection for both. This means authorities are alerted even if you’re not interacting with the system when these dangerous elements are sensed. Make sure your fire extinguishers are full. The needle must point to the green zone. If it’s not, it’s time to replace or service the extinguisher. Also, check that the hose isn’t cracked and that the handle and locking pin are in place. Kitchen Keep a contact list on your refrigerator. Include all important numbers like Poison Control, your doctor, emergency services, and close family members. Check your range’s hood fan for grease buildup. This can cause a fire, so clean it regularly to ensure it works properly. Also, check your kitchen fire extinguisher to confirm the needle is in the green zone and that nothing is broken or out of place. Give your oven and range top a deep clean. For your garbage disposal, use vinegar, baking soda, ice, hot water, and some lemon or lime to clean it thoroughly. Basement Make sure you clean your circuit breaker to avoid outages and power surges. Also, cover your pipes properly to prevent them from freezing. If your basement temperature drops below 32 degrees, you risk frozen pipes. Remember to change your furnace filters every four to six weeks. Furthermore, dust your air vents regularly. Inspect your basement for cracks, leaks, or mold that could cause health hazards or other dangers. Finally, ensure any outside doors to your basement are secure. If you’re installing a security system, put a sensor on the outside basement door. This helps even if a thief would also need to go through an interior door to get into your home. Bathroom Make sure your first aid kit is full. Make sure windows have locks and that they are locked. This is something you should check throughout the entire house. Outside Check your outdoor lighting. Good outdoor lighting helps you and your visitors see where you’re walking. It also deters burglars. If you don’t have outdoor lights, get some installed. Motion lights are excellent additions. If you lack outside video surveillance, consider adding it. You can see everyone who comes to your home. This helps you identify unwelcome visitors. Additional Home Safety Checklist Items You can make your home safer with many steps, but checking fire extinguishers or cleaning garbage disposals won’t keep thieves away. Unfortunately, burglars break into homes daily across Rochester and all over New York, often because those homes lack security systems. This not only means losing belongings but also losing your sense of personal security. Contact Your Rochester Security System Installer and Finish Your Home Safety Checklist To make your home more secure, SPS Fire & Security offers a full suite of solutions. Just call us and ask about the best option for your home and your needs. Call us today at 585-770-0348 to learn more! Â
