Taking precautions outside the home comes as second nature, wearing seat belts in the car, checking for traffic when crossing the road and avoiding obvious hazards. But what about putting safety first inside our homes?
Fire Preparedness
There are many ways you can prepare your home in the event of a fire: buying fire extinguishers and fire blankets, installing a smoke alarm, and planning escape routes including from first-floor windows via an escape ladder.
You can also take some preventative measures to keep your family safe from fire by not overloading sockets or extension leads, never leaving burning candles unattended, and replacing any electrical item with faulty wiring or worn cables.
Fire doors are an important fire safety feature in your home. These doors are fitted with a special strip which expands when it gets hot, sealing the gap between the door and the frame. This prevents the fire from spreading for around 30 minutes. Fire doors for commercial premises can stop fire from spreading for up to an hour.
The fire door cost is well worth the peace of mind that it will give you knowing your family has extra time to get out in the event of a fire.
Electrical Safety
Thousands of fires are caused by electrical issues every year and hundreds of people suffer electric shocks annually. So electrical safety is extremely important for every household.
One of the most common misuses of electricity is overloading sockets particularly through the use of multi-way extension leads. It’s important not to exceed the maximum current rating of an extension lead as this can cause the socket it’s plugged into to overheat and potentially catch fire.
Visually checking electrical sockets, plugs, adapters, light fittings and cables regularly is also important so that you can see any damage or deterioration. Any damaged electrical item should be replaced to avoid the risk of electric shock or fire.
Cooking and Heating
Not only do more than half of all fires start in the kitchen but there are many other hazards which you should be aware of when cooking or heating your home. Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas so you must fit a carbon monoxide detector in your home if you have a gas boiler, gas fire or any other fossil-fuel burning appliances.
If you have small children make sure that they are not left alone in the kitchen particularly if there is something hot on the stove. Keep pan handles out of reach and fire guards around wood burners or gas fires.
When cooking don’t lean over the hob if you are wearing loose clothes or have long hair not tied back. Keep tea towels and cloths away from the stove and keep your oven clean as grease build-up can contribute to kitchen fires.
Garden Safety
The garden is a wonderful place to relax and for your children to play in but of course safety is still a priority for both you and your little ones.
Trip hazards are more likely in the garden so make sure to check that all your paving slabs are even and repair any broken steps or paths. Of course, gardening tools are vital for keeping your garden looking good but make sure they are in good repair and check for any frayed or damaged electric cables. Keep sharp gardening tools and hazardous chemicals locked away in your garden shed if you have small children.
Any ponds, pools or streams should be fenced off if you have young children and remember to keep them away from hot barbecues or fire pits.
