How To Plan A Fire Emergency Procedure For Your Home

Smoke detectors are your first line of defence against the dangers of house fires. But what do you do if your smoke alarm goes off and you find a section of your house overrun with smoke and fire? Being prepared with a solid plan of action for “if and when” a fire emergency happens, is just as important as having smoke detectors installed.  In fact, without a proper evacuation plan in place, your smoke detectors can only do so much to keep you safe. Here are a few tips and guidelines professionals recommend to be completely prepared, and to get the most benefit from your smoke detectors in Queensland.

Fire from any source can spread rapidly and engulf a home in mere minutes, which is why every second counts when you hear your smoke alarm go off. Follow these steps to keep your home and family as safe as possible:

1. Know Your Exits

Be very familiar with all exits available around the house so that you can quickly find a place to make a safe exit if the fire is beyond the point of control. Walk through the house with your family and make notes of the best exit locations, then review these with your family to ensure they all know where to exit to if a fire breaks out.

2. Invest In Fire Extinguishers

Place fire extinguishers strategically around the house so that one will be in easy reach wherever you are at the time. If the fire is still small and can be contained, use a fire extinguisher. If not, evacuate your home.

3. Opt For Emergency Releases

If your home has security bars across windows or you’re planning on having them installed, opt for the type that has emergency release clips or can be unlocked to swing open if needed.

4. Have A Buddy System

Should you have elderly family members, toddlers or infants at home, assign a healthy, capable family member to help them evacuate if a fire breaks out.

5. Visible Emergency Contact Information

Put the fire department’s emergency number on your fridge and near the phone, and get your family members to memorise the number.  In Australia, the Emergency contact number is 000.

6. Keep Exit Paths Clear

Check if the front of your house is easily identifiable and accessible for emergency services to find entry in case of an emergency. If you don’t already have a street number on your outside wall or clearly visible from the street, have one installed. You don’t want precious minutes to be wasted as they try to find your home.

If you follow these steps and take precautionary measures now, you’ll have peace of mind in the knowledge that everyone is prepared and informed about what to do if a fire breaks out in your home. If you’d like to upgrade the safety of your home by installing smoke detectors in Queensland and Northern NSW, customers trust Pacific Smoke Alarms for professional and helpful advice. Contact us today for more information.