ESI’s Home Fire Safety Tips

Residential home fire safety is the most critical safety issue one faces in their home due to the devastating effects should a fire breakout. This not only affects homeowners but renters, property management businesses, apartment and condo occupants, and even guests who might visit from time to time. Fire is perhaps the single most chaotic force of nature that one can encounter and its dangerous by-product, smoke, is the leading cause of death in American homes today. As humans, we think we understand fires and their effects until it’s staring us right in the face.  If that time ever comes, we as homeowners better be prepared to handle the event and manage the lives of those in harm’s way.

To help everyone get prepared, the experts at one of Jacksonville’s largest commercial and residential security alarm companies, ESI have some home fire safety tips one should consider and plan for, to prevent a fire break out in their home. Doing your due diligence can make all the difference in the world should the worst happen and be faced by a fire and or smoke event.

ESI, Emergency Systems Inc. has been assisting homeowners and businesses for over 40 years and understands that taking precautions in preventing fires is the first step towards reducing their effect should a fire breakout take place in your home.

Top Four Home Fire Safety Tips

#1. Install professional-grade, hardwired smoke detectors on every level of your home. Kitchens, bedrooms, laundry rooms, and garages are especially vulnerable to fire events due to the chemicals, electronics, and heating elements present.

#2. Test these smoke alarms each and every month. Commercial grade fire alarms have a backup battery installed but take nothing for granted when it comes to home fire safety. Test smoke alarms every month because just having them up on the walls and ceilings won’t do you any good if they’re not in working condition. If you have recently moved into a home or apartment that already has smoke alarms, test them immediately and verify they are working. Change out batteries if you’re unsure when they last were changed. This is always a good idea just to be safe.

#3. Have an escape plan developed for your home and talk to family members about the dangers of smoking, lite candles, open flames and especially cooking with oil or using gas. The escape plan you develop should be practiced at least once a year. This will not only save lives but might save your life as well if the plan is not followed and you have to risk life and limb to save someone else. Include in your plan what the sound of the smoke alarm sounds like so everyone is familiar with it. You need to create an escape plan for every room in your house. And what is the fastest and safest way out the door from there. Make sure everyone who lives there knows their route out in case of emergency.

#4. Remember, smoke, the byproduct of a fire event is the deadliest element present and the leading cause of death in the event you are faced with a fire. If a fire occurs get everyone out of the house as soon as possible and stay out. Monitoring performed by a professional team is the best way to initiate fire rescue and ESI has the most professionally trained alarm technicians in the business.

What Really Happens When a Fire Break’s Out

Should a fire start anywhere in your home it needs to be caught immediately. Fire and especially smoke can spread incredibly fast so the sooner you are alerted to its presence the better all will be. When people come face to face with fire, they might not know what to expect of themselves. Will they freeze up, run, alert everyone in the home or just freak out?  This is why having a drill will equip their best response. Practice and being familiar with this type of stress allows them to perform in a high-stress situation like a fire event.

Again, if the worst occurs and a fire starts in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT, and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone unless there is ample time. The real danger is that reentering a building on fire will confuse everyone inside. It might at first glance sound like a callous or uncaring thing to do, but it’s the best thing you can do to help everyone involved.

Remember and remind everyone living in your home to keep flammable items a minimum of 3 feet away from heat sources.

Smoking is the leading cause of residential fire deaths in the United States.

Talk to children about the dangers of smoke, open flames, fire, matches, and lighters. Keep them out of reach of children of all ages.

Why Choose ESI For All Your Security Alarm Needs?

Eliminating the most common causes of home fires will prevent their breakout in the first place. Give ESI a call and have your security alarm and fire alarm equipment reviewed and replaced if necessary. We have the most up-to-date alarm equipment available and our local security and fire alarm monitoring stations are state-of-the-art facilities manned 24/7 by trained security experts.

Call us today at 904-388-3975 for a free security analysis.