As the weather finally starts catching up to the time of year, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is reminding citizens of the critical importance of practicing fire safety year-round.
The five most common fire safety concerns in the home are:
- Smoke Alarms: When a fire starts, smoke and heat build quickly. Every second gained from being alerted by your smoke alarm is crucial. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, test it regularly, and replace the batteries at least every year.
- Home Fire Escape Plan: No one plans to have a home fire, but it’s important to acknowledge that it could happen to you, and to have a plan in place if it does. Plan two routes of escape from every room, and designate a meeting place outside the home. Remember: get out and stay out.
- Child Fire Safety: It’s extremely important to make sure your child is educated on fire safety from an early age. However, while informing children is important, it’s the responsibility of the caregiver to make certain matches and lighters are kept out of reach, and to ensure children know what to do in case of a fire.
- Adult Fire Safety: Most house fires start in the kitchen, and are often caused by unattended cooking food and appliances. Do not wear loose clothing when cooking, keep towels and pot holders away from the stovetop and never use the range or oven to heat your home.
- Careless Smoking: The number one cause of preventable home fire deaths is smoking. Never leave a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe unattended, and if you begin to feel drowsy while smoking, put the object out immediately. Be sure to use deep ashtrays and never smoke in bed.
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