By Young Lindsay


Fire has three basic ingredients. Fuel causes the flame, air makes it breathe, and heat gives it the continuity to grow. But when all three components strike in your very own abode, you only have two minutes to escape when a blaze starts.

More than fifty percent of deaths in home infernos have happened because of non working smoke alarms. Because of this statistic, it is highly encouraged to have mist sprayers, smoke detectors, and fire sprinkler hydraulic calculation software. But all of them will be useless if you do not know the basics of flame safety.

The basic rule is to get out and stay outside while getting help. You should also test your smoke detectors regularly and change batteries as necessary. Talking with your family and other household members about what to do in case of a blaze is also a must to ensure that everyone knows how to escape in case of emergency.

Remove combustion hazards. Flammable household items should be securely kept, and things that can easily catch flames should be at least three feet away from something that has the tendency to be hot. Do not smoke in bed and dispose cigarettes properly. Turn off your appliances before going to sleep. Although the words may be old, teach your children to never play with matches, lighters, and such.

If you have smoke alarms, install them in every room. This is for maximum coverage as a blaze can begin in any part of your home. They would need replacement every decade. Never disable these alarms, and orient your children about them.

Have a minimum of two flame exits in your house. Conduct conflagration drills so you can practice how to escape safely, even just once or twice a year. It is also important to learn to wake up at the sound of a smoke alarm, especially if someone in your family is a heavy sleeper.

Never let anyone be ignorant of the important 911 call, especially children. Teach your family that in the case they catch flames themselves, the rule is to stop, drop, and roll. Low crawling should also be taught. Keep the cooking in the kitchen, and do not leave the kitchen when the stove is on. Check for faulty equipment and wires as well.

Your other best friend in keeping your house safe is the carbon monoxide detector. Suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning are among the leading cause of deaths when there is a burning inferno, not the charring itself. You may want to install these things where the smoke alarms are. Substances that cause high concentrations of carbon monoxide should never be kept in closed spaces.

If are planning to have an extinguisher, you are required to undergo formal training under the fire department. Extinguishers can only be used by a trained individual and there are a few conditions in which they are allowed to be used, such as when the blaze is small, not growing, and when help has been dispatched and everyone has escaped. Otherwise, do not attempt to use them.




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