We grew up with Fire Alarm drills in school and have more than likely practiced them at our workplaces as well, but have you ever done it at your home? October is Fire Prevention month and a great time to review your home fire safety planning.

Your home is where you go to relax, spend time with the ones you love and create memories. Those inside your home, your loved ones – including the pets, are special to you and would do anything to keep them safe. When it comes to a home fire, it can spread in seconds, but proper emergency planning protects those you love the most. Preparing a fire escape plan for your family is a great way to start your home fire safety.

Talking to everyone in the home about fire safety

Including your children in the conversation about fire safety is important. It can be challenging for them to understand but the best way to protect your children is to prepare them.

Discuss what fire alarms are, what they look like, how they work and what happens when they go off. Let them know when the alarm goes off, that is their signal to escape. Keep things simple and prioritize the escape. Emphasize their safety over their toys and belongings. Ask your child to draw a picture of your home and what they think the safest paths are to exit. This will help you understand what they know to help you with your next step in your home fire safety.

Creating a Fire Escape Plan & Practice

One of the most important things you can do is create a home fire escape plan, these plans can save lives. The plan helps prevent panic and allows your family to exit the home safely. How do you create an escape plan and what should be included?

Start by drawing out a simple floor plan, one that everyone can understand, include living spaces and the nearby exits. Identify two ways out of each room, including both doors and windows. Here are some things to consider:

• Where are the exits for each living space?
• If a window is used, is it safe to exit?
• Do you have window ladders for 2^nd floor living spaces?
• Can each family member easily open exits?
• Does anyone need assistance exiting the home?

Once you have created your map and outlined exits, you need to decide on a meeting point. This is important as everyone must know the meeting location and be able to get to that location. Choose a location outside the home that is at least 50 ft. away from the home. Options can be your mailbox, a tree or the neighbor’s house.

The final and important piece to the escape plan is practicing! Practice is important, especially with kids, this will get them familiar with the plan, give them the independence and confidence to know what to do in case of a fire. Practice by aiming for an evacuation time of under two minutes for the entire family. Practice your plan at least two times each year and from different areas in your home.

Life Safety Devices

Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get out quickly. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) roughly 3 out of 5 fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Which is why it is most important to have a functioning fire alarm system in your home to provide the protection for the ones you love. Remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and to test them once a month. It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms, so when one goes off, they all go off. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

What is a Custom Alarm Fire Alarm system?

When you request a free quote to discuss your homes safety concerns our consultants will walk-through your home, assess what you currently have, identify areas of risk, and discuss options for giving your home the best protection.

At Custom Alarm we offer a monitored fire alarm system integrated into your home security system. A smoke/CO detector is installed in your home and when your smoke alarms go off, it will send a signal to our monitoring center, notifying them of your need for assistance. There are many benefits to a monitored system that operates every day of the year, 24/7. Whether you are home or away, you know your home and those you love in it are protected.