Creating A Secure Business

4 Winter Holiday Fire Safety Tips

With fall and winter on the horizon, it is time to start thinking about how to keep your home safe from winter fires. Winter time presents many different fire hazards and dangers that you need to be aware of. Winter home fire hazards range from Christmas trees, candles, holiday cooking and fireworks. There are steps you can take to keep your home safe.

Check Your Fire Alarms

The first thing that you need to do is check your fire alarms. Most fire alarms have a test button that you can hit on them to make sure that they are working. If you can't remember the last time you changed out the batteries in your fire alarm, change them out now to stay safe. Put a small sticker over a solid surface on your fire alarm with the date that you changed the firm alarm so you'll know when to next change out the batteries.

Make Sure You Have Enough Fire Alarms

Next, make sure that you have enough fire alarms to keep you and your family safe. You should have a fire alarm in the hallway next to each bedroom in your home to alert people to fires when they are sleeping. You should have a fire alarm on each level of your house, even if you just have half-levels. You should have a fire alarm in your kitchen, and fire alarms near any heat source in your home, such as a fire place or a furnace. This may be more fire alarms then is required to meet your building codes; however, when it comes to fire alarms, it really should be about your safety.

Be Smart with Candles

The biggest days for home candle fire each year are New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, and Christmas. Home decoration fires are often started by candles as well during the holiday season.

If you burn candles, you need to be very careful, especially if you have any pets or children in your home. You need to keep a close eye on the candles the entire time they are burning. If you are busy in another room, blow out the candle. If you are going outside, blow out the candle. Candles should only burn when someone is actually aware and watching them.

If you have pets that like to climb on furniture, you should avoid using candles during the holiday season.

Watch Out When Cooking

You may be surprised to learn that the peak day for cooking fires is Thanksgiving, the day before Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When you are cooking, make sure that your attention is fully focused on what you are doing. Set up rules for who is allowed in the kitchen when food is cooking. Make sure that you have a fire extinguisher on hand that can handle regular fires and grease fires as well.

Stay safe this holiday season by making sure that you have enough fire alarms installed in your home and that you have working batteries in all of your fire alarms. Be smart with candles and only light then when you can keep an eye on them. When cooking for the holidays, keep the traffic in the kitchen to a minimum and make sure someone is always watching the stove and keeping things safe.

Contact a company like Alexander Gow Fire Equipment Company for more information.


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