By: Cheryl M. Luis
March is fire prevention month in the Philippines. This was observed by Presidential Proclamation 115-A, series of 1966, issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. March is also the country’s summer season and which the most fire incidences.
It is important to be prepared before you realized it is too late. We always think that fires are not part of our day-to-day, we can get complacent and too easily fall into the âthat wonât happen to meâ mentality. Yet all it takes is one cooking accident, faulty wiring, or one gas explosion to put us in danger and take our lives.
The first step in home fire safety is prevention, naturally. You can get peace of mind by installing smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and fire alarms. Adapting to better practices around the home can help stop fires before they start. This can also limit and control the leading causes of home fires.
With that in mind, I put together tips on how to prevent fires from breaking out at home and, if one starts, the best steps we can take to make sure everyone gets out safely.
Cooking and faulty wirings are at the top of the home fire hazards list. Be attentive in the kitchen, keep kids and pets away from heaters and candles, and try to incorporate these practices into your home life.
When cooking:
Stay in the kitchen whenever something is frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling.
Donât use the oven or the stove when youâre sleepy or under the influence of alcohol.
Keep flammable objects at least 3 feet away from the stovetop.
For electrical wiring safety tips:
Power off – Make sure the power is off at the breaker before you start and use a voltage tester to verify that wires and/or electrical connections are completely dead before you start working on them. Make sure everyone in your home is aware that electrical work is going on. Tape the circuit breaker into the off position.
Be careful what you touch – Never touch plumbing or gas pipes while working with electricity they are often used to ground electrical systems.
Use the right tools – Before you begin, make sure you have a plan in place as to what outlets, switches, and fixtures will be involved in your project. Make sure you have all the appropriate tools, including but not limited to: needle nose pliers, wire cutters, cable & wire stripper, fish & colored tape, voltage tester, continuity tester, electric & right-angle drill. You may be able to rent some of this equipment from your local hardware store.
Replace old wiring that shows signs of deterioration or fraying
Fix fuse and breaker problems
Donât overload – overloaded outlets or extension cords can create a fire hazard.
Other leading home fire risks:
Never smoke inside the home.
Switch to flameless candles. If you must use candles with a flame, never leave them unattended, and be sure to extinguish them before leaving a room.
Keep matches and lighters away from children. Store them safely and securely, preferably somewhere high up and/or with a lock.
What to do when the fire starts:
Once a fire breaks out in your home, you will have seconds to make important decisions about putting out the fire, escaping from the building, and calling the fire department.
Having a few fire extinguishers4 in your home can help you stop small fires before they have the chance to spread and burn out of control.
A small fire in the home can rage out of control in an instant. In most cases, you only have two minutes to exit the home. A home security system with professional emergency response monitoring like ADT can make sure the fire department is alerted, but that doesnât keep everyone safe as the fire spreads.
The most important thing is to teach children to never hide during a fire and try to get out on their own if nobody can help them.
Fires in the home are never expected. The key responsibilities we need to remember start with risk mitigation from cooking and electrical connections. Next, we should maintain enough properly placed smoke detectors and fire extinguishers throughout the home. Finally, we need to design and practice a fire escape plan regularly with everyone at home. If we incorporate these actions into our lives, we can keep our families safe and the likelihood of fires to a minimum. /PN
