Plan Before Fire Strikes

6/27/2020 (Permalink)

Learn to use and maintain a fire extinguisher. Contact a certified authority such as the fire department.

Fire can happen to anyone. The threat is universal and sometimes with the littlest provocations. However, as a Malay Proverb says, “Prepare the umbrella before it rains.” It is essential to follow proper guidelines in preparation for the eventuality of a fire. 

Three Ways to Plan Before Fire Strikes

ESCAPE PLAN

A clear and well-understood fire escape plan is critical. Having a plan eliminates confusion and decision paralysis that might occur in the heat of an emergency. A few essential components of such a plan include:

• Make sure windows are easy to open up from the inside. 
• Know your way around instinctively. Practice feeling around the house in a blindfold or the dark.
• Ensure children understand to cooperate with firefighters and know where to go should a fire arise.

FIRE DETECTOR

The earlier you know there’s a fire, the better your chances of surviving. 

Guidelines include:

• Install smoke alarms. Every area of the house should have a fire alarm.
• Have a schedule to check and replace the batteries in all alarms
• Have a plan to test and replace the alarm units.
• Never disable a smoke alarm (not even when cooking).
• Have smoke alarm options for people with accessibility needs. The alarm should also trigger sounds, strobe/flashing lights.

BE PROACTIVE

These are extra steps to minimize potential losses and ensure all preparation does not go to waste.

• Create digital copies of relevant documents. Backup these copies to a secure cloud-based service (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
• Learn to use and maintain a fire extinguisher. Contact a certified authority such as the fire department.
• Consider an automatic fire sprinkler.
• Ensure your home is not a fire hazard. Keep your home in top safety conditions.

Proper preparation is vital in determining how disastrous a fire hazard would be to you.