No one wants to think about a fire breaking out in their home, but you need to be prepared. If the worst does happen, you need to know how you’ll get out and keep yourself safe. If you want to know how to prevent fires and be safe in the event of a fire, read on for the best apartment fire safety tips.
Apartment Fire Safety & Prevention Tips
There are lots of ways you can reduce the chances of fire in your home. The best thing is it’s not all that difficult to do. Here’s how you can prevent fires from happening.
Use Candles Carefully
Candles are a wonderful addition to your home. They add a lovely cozy glow, and many come in gorgeous scents, too. If you use candles in your home, ensure that you’re using them properly. If you’re not careful, they are a serious fire hazard.
You should never let a candle keep burning if you’re not in the room. Instead, blow it out if you’re about to go somewhere else, and never let it burn if you’re leaving the apartment. Keep candles well away from soft furnishings, such as drapes, as these will easily catch fire if left unattended. If you have lighters and matches for the use of lighting candles, ensure that they are well out of the reach of children.
Install and Check Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are an essential addition to your home. They’ll be your first line of defence if a fire does break out, as they will alert you to it. Ensure that you have smoke alarms fitted throughout your apartment. You’ll need to check that they’re working every month, so do that by pressing the ‘test’ button on the alarm. If it goes off, it’s still working as intended.
If it doesn’t, change the batteries out and try it again. It’s also a very good idea to change the batteries every six months. The best way to remember this is to change the batteries every time the clocks change during the year.
Smoking in Your Home
If you smoke, your home will be at higher risk of fire. To mitigate the danger, it’s best to never smoke in your apartment. Your building may have a designated smoking area, so use it to keep lit cigarettes and spent, but still dangerous cigarette butts, away from your home. It’s essential that you never smoke in bed. It’s very easy to fall asleep with a lit cigarette, and the soft furnishings on your bed are an excellent fuel for fire.
Be Careful With Space Heaters
If your apartment is on the cold side, then you’ll want to use space heaters to keep it warm. These work well, but you need to be cautious when using them as they are a fire risk. When you have one plugged in and running, never leave it unattended. You’ll also need to turn them off at night when you go to bed, to stop them overheating.
Prevent Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are a common cause of apartment fires, so you need to take steps to prevent them. Firstly, ensure that you’re not overloading outlets and extension leads. This can be difficult in an apartment where you don’t have enough outlets, but overloaded outlets are a serious risk.
You can use surge protectors to help lower the risk if you do need extra outlets. When using electrical items, inspect cords carefully. Anything that looks frayed or otherwise damaged should not be used, as they are a serious risk.
What to Do in the Event of a Fire
Even if you’re careful, fire can sometimes occur. If you’re prepared, you can get out and keep yourself and your family safe. Here’s what to do in the event of a fire.
Have an Escape Plan
You should have a plan should a fire break out anywhere in your building. Your apartment complex should have a designated evacuation spot for residents, so find out where it is. Aim to reach that area if a fire alarm goes off.
Have a plan to get yourself, your family, and any pets out. Practice the route you’ll take until you know it by heart. If an alarm does go off, then you’ll be able to get out quickly. It’s a good idea to have a second route planned too, in case the first one is blocked.
Learn How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
If a fire is small enough you can tackle it yourself. If you can, then a fire extinguisher is your best option. To use one, the best thing to do is to remember the PASS system:
P – Pull the pin on the extinguisher.
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames.
S – Squeeze the trigger to get the extinguisher started.
S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side to catch all the flames.
Knowing this will help you get an extinguisher working, even in the panic of a fire.
Set Off a Fire Alarm
If you discover a fire anywhere in your building, you’ll need to alert others to it. The best thing to do will be to use a fire alarm pull, to set the alarm off and alert the whole building. If your building is up to code, you should be able to find one on the wall easily and pull it.
Don’t Stop
If you need to evacuate, the temptation to save valuables is strong. Even if you suspect its a false alarm though, don’t stop to grab anything. The only thing you should get out of the apartment are you, any other residents, and your pets. Your safety is the top priority.
This guide will help you prevent fires in your apartment, and help you get out quickly and safely in the event of a fire. Take care with flammable items, and plan your escape route should a fire break out in your home. The more prepared you are, the safer you will be.