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In the past 10 years, there have been almost 16,000 fire accidents and more than 1500 people died in those accidents. Electric malfunctions/ carelessness/ gas explosion- there are many reasons behind a fire accidents. It’s clear from the number that fire safety is something that definitely should start in the home.
Most are accidental mishaps, which cause people to be fainted by smoke or trapped in fires. These accidents can risk huge losses of lives, so it’s a must to be aware and be prepared to prevent any sort of unwanted fire incidents.
Now, when it’s about fire safety preparation, a huge part of it is having the right equipment for the right emergency situation. In case of homes, the proper fire safety equipment for homes.
These equipment will not only give you the mental peace and sense of security, in case/ cases of fire, they will come very handy and can save valuable life or lives. Here are fire safety items for home all of us should own as a precaution:
Alarm System
One of first fire safety items to must have is the fire alarm. The moment this alarm detects fire, it goes off, alerting people in the vicinity. In each level of a property, a fire alarm should be fitted near or right in the middle of the ceiling, at least 30cm away from walls or lights. There are various types of alarm systems in the market, a fire expert should decide the best for you after taking all the factors (environment, height, light placement etc.) into consideration.
Then, there is smoke alarms, another must have safety item in home. Smoke detectors give an early warning through alarms, alerting people before the fire has a chance to turn into a more severe fire. Thus, it can be the difference between life and death. Be sure to install smoke alarms in each level of the home, as well as outside of any sleeping areas and inside every bedrooms.
The last but not least, Carbon Monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, which is being produced every time we use fire to burn anything, but incompletely. It can be fuel consumption, using a grill, cigarette smoke or simply turning on the stove- if there is any incomplete burns, there is Carbon monoxide. But why is this important? Because CO is a toxic gas. It is heavier than air and can stock up at ground level. Inhaling too much of this can cause massive injuries to health, even death. So it is important to have multiple carbon monoxide alarms to be alerted, if the gas level gets too high. Just like the smoke alarms, CO alarms should be installed in each level of the home, as well as outside of any sleeping areas and inside every bedrooms.
Now, don’t just put alarms and be done about it. Always test them, see if those are on top shape. Change batteries regularly.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are the best fire safety products for putting out small fires, controlling the fire incidents before they become too big to be out of hands. These play a very important role in fire safety preparation. There are different types of fire extinguishers available in the market.
Depending on the size of the structure, you should have both powder fire extinguisher and foam fire extinguisher for your home. This would give you not only safety, but also multipurpose coverage and versatility.
Fire Blanket
This is the most cost effective fire safety product you can have in your home. These nonflammable blankets are helpful in temperatures up to 900 degrees and can be used easily by someone who is inexperienced with fire extinguishers.
For extinguishing minor fires, kitchen fire while cooking or to wrap around people if their clothes catch fire, fire blanket are very useful. It should be stored in a quickly accessible place in home.
Sprinkler
This is a very important and effective fire safety equipment many houses in Bangladesh lack or are completely ignorant of. It’s so effective that, the buildings which are completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 96% of fires in those are controlled by fire sprinklers alone.
Although back in the days, these were only used in factories and large commercial buildings. But now, systems for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost-effective price worldwide. Smoke alarms can detect, but sprinkler system can control the fire even before anyone knows about the fire. Home fire sprinklers helps the fire alarms’ work, providing solutions to put out flames without any delay.
Fire Retardant
This is a a substance that is used to slow down or stop the spread of fire or reduce its power. Apart from the fire extinguishers, fire retardants are also available as paints, coatings or sprays to be applied to an object, in this case, house walls. Fire retardants paints are specially useful in kitchens and basements.
Water
Always know where the water mains are located so that you have quick and easy access to water. Also, you should always have water and pipes stored, ready to be used whenever the need arises.
Fire Escape
There will be times, when you can not fight or control the fire, it’d be just too powerful to be extinguished by you. Or you can discover yourself surrounded by fire, the main exit blocked and nowhere to go. To get out of these situations alive, a good fire escape is a must in home. There should be pre-planned routes that all family members should be aware of, and must include the routes which will allow people to get out quickly, as fast as possible.
As a part of the fire escape plan, fire escape ladders can be very handy if the situation arises. It can can help you evacuate your home in case of an emergency, if your primary escape route/ main exit is blocked. They are especially ideal for safely evacuating from a short multi storied building. And they are collapsible, which makes them really easy to be discreetly stored. Fire escape ladders should be kept inside each bedroom on the upper level(s) of your home, so they are easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Fire safety gears should be always stored and taken care of, because they can save lives in case of a fire emergency. So, don’t skim off, don’t go cheap, buy the best fire safety item for your home from reliable stores and be safe.