Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post.
October is Fire Prevention Month and I figured this was an ideal time to talk about steps we take to help make sure that our home is safe. Nothing is more important than the well-being of my family, and I am so excited to share how First Alert helps keep us prepared for an emergency fire or CO situation. With two young kids and a cat, it’s necessary to practice fire safety and install the proper protection, and First Alert has amazing products and tools to help protect every part of our home.
In terms of fire safety, we primarily accomplish this by inspecting our fire safety devices and having a family escape plan. If you’ve been putting off doing either of these things, this is your sign to get it done. For Fire Prevention Month, First Alert has provided us with this awesome checklist, and I hope you join me in performing this safety routine in your home!
Fire Extinguishers
The first thing we look at is our fire extinguishers. We have the First Alert Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguishers placed throughout our home. These are lightweight and ideal for common household fires. It’s recommended that you have easily accessible extinguishers on every level of your home. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires (NFPA). You definitely don’t want to leave your food unattended while it’s cooking, but also make sure that you have an extinguisher near the kitchen and grill, just in case. It’s also wise to have extinguishers close to your laundry room and garage.
Don’t forget to become well acquainted with how your fire extinguishers work. The acronym P.A.S.S. is a simple way to remember how to use it when needed:
P– Pull the pin
A– Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire
S– Squeeze the trigger
S– Sweep from side to side
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Next, every home needs to have reliable smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Almost 3 of 5 home deaths related to fires happened when there were no working smoke alarms or no smoke alarms in the home. Unfortunately, alarms don’t last forever, and to help be sure yours are functioning properly, you want to test them regularly.
I love the comfort and security of using the Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms with 10-Year Sealed Battery. They don’t require battery replacements for the life of the alarm meaning no late-night, low-battery chirps! We have them installed on every level and in every bedroom of our house.
If it’s time to replace your alarms, consider upgrading to First Alert’s Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm with 10-Year Sealed Battery.
Escape Plan
Having a family escape plan is just as important as having reliable fire safety equipment. Multiple times each year, you want to discuss your plan with every member of your family. You should also take the time to practice so everyone knows what they’re expected to do in an emergency. Although it may be uncomfortable to imagine your loved ones being in a dangerous situation, having a plan is one of the best ways to help protect them.
Show your children two possible options for exiting each room in your home and select a safe location outside for everyone to meet after you have evacuated. Also, teach your children not to re-enter your home until they are told it’s completely safe. Customize your escape plan so it makes sense for your family members and the layout of your home.
My husband and I do our very best to be proactive and ward off as many potential problems as possible. We are so grateful to First Alert for providing these resources to help us!
You can find First Alert fire safety products at Lowe’s. Have an awesome Fire Prevention Month!
Talk to you soon!
