Every year all over the world, people lose their houses and sometimes even their lives from fires in their homes. The amount of fires and lives lost can be greatly reduced if people get serious about fire prevention, early warning systems and having a quick and efficient escape plan. Here are a few tips that you and your family can use to develop a safety plan for your home and greatly reduce the chances of fire damage, loss of possessions and loss of life.

Prevent It

Even with all the latest fire detection systems we have now, nothing keeps your home and family safer than good old-fashioned prevention. Many fires that end up consuming homes could have been prevented at the early stages with a little vigilance and awareness. Here are a few precautionary steps you can take to protect your home.

- Don’t put lights or candles on the Christmas tree.

- Turn off power points that aren’t being used, and unplug everything when you are away from the house.

- Implement a no smoking policy indoors.

- Keep the space around the stove top clear of electrical cords, dish towels and other flammable items.

- Keep space heaters far from flowing fabrics such as curtains and bedspreads.

- Don’t let lit candles out of your sight.

- Have a special storage space for aerosol cans, or try not to have any in your home at all.

- Keep all fire starters such as matches or lighters far from the reach of small children.

Be Warned

Every home should have an early warning fire alarm system on every level in the home. The earlier the fire is detected, the faster you can get out of your home safely and with the most minimal property damage. Smoke alarms are extremely useful for preventing smouldering things from turning into full on blazes. If your alarm system is battery operated, then make sure to change the batteries frequently or test the alarm.

Contain It

Many small fires that start can be put out immediately with the right equipment. Have a fire blanket and fire extinguisher handy in high-risk rooms such as the kitchen or bedroom. Make sure everyone in your family are aware of where these are located in the house, and how to use them.

Plan Your Escape

If all else fails and a fire is out of your control in your home, it’s important to recognize this right away so that you and your family have time to escape. Make sure you and your family have a well-rehearsed escape plan in case of a fire, and a designated meeting area outside so that you know everyone made it out okay. This isn’t the time to be worrying about possessions and property as the lives of yourself and your family come first. After you are outside, call the local emergency services quickly as you may also be able to prevent your neighbours’ house from igniting as well any surrounding bushland.