Every Second Counts: Fire Safety

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

Every second counts during a fire. Fire experts agree; people have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home or work space. It is critical to be prepared and have an escape plan in place.

Once the plan is developed, it is critical everyone in the home or office understands the plan. The best way to do this is to discuss and practice the plan at least twice a year.

The following are a suggestions to help you develop an emergency escape plan: 

• Draw a map of each level of your home or business and show all the doors and windows. Find two ways to get out of each room. Make sure all doors and windows that lead to outside open easily. 
• Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second floor. Only purchase collapsible escape ladders evaluated by a recognized testing laoratory. 
• Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home or business where everyone can meet. Make sure to mark this location on the map. 
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you are not able to help them. 

Fire Prevention tips:

• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and test them monthly.
• Don't Wait, Check the Date-Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. 
• Store matches and Lighters safely, mainly out of the reach of children. Also, make sure you store them in locations where combustion or exposure to flames might be an issue.
• Practice proper cooking safety. Don't leave cooking food unattended, have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen, keep children and pets away from the kitchen while cooking. 
• Be careful with all open flames, never leave them unattended. 
• Generators should always be used outside the home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when a generator is not working or vented properly. 

The key is to reduce risks by practicing fire safety in your home and business, while there are no guarantees taking these steps will help prevent fires and keep your property, family or coworkers safe.

SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County is a trusted leader in the fire damage restoration industry. We are a local company with over 25 years of experience in fire damage cleanup. 

Read our Fire Damage restoration services page to learn more.