Your home is a lifetime investment. It is where you and your loved ones feel safe. It is, thus, important to ensure the safety of your home against any incident or accident that can cause losses or destruction.A house fire accident isone of the most common causes for property destruction. Something as minor as an electric short-circuit can cause severe damage to your property. Repairing a house damaged due to fire can prove to be a huge, unexpected expense and can put a massive dent in your savings. Thus, it is necessary to take some necessary home fire prevention measures from the get go. Here are a few measures that you can take to keep your home and your family safe from fire accidents.

Safety in Fire - Tips & Tricks for Home Fire Safety

8 things you should do to ensure safety in fire-related incidents.

1. Install smoke detectors: The first rule for home fire safety is to install smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are a must in the kitchen as most home fires start there. However, the smart thing to do is to install them in every room of your home. The early warning system helps you to swing into action and save lives and property before it’s too late. You can also get all the smoke detectors wired together. This will ensure that if one alarm goes; others will go off as well, while alerting everyone in the house. This is especially important when a smoke detector goes off in the kitchen while everyone in the family is sleeping.

2. Test the smoke alarms regularly: Just as it is important to install the smoke detectors, it is equally crucial to check the smoke alarms regularly. A smoke alarm typically has a tiny button on it, which you need to press to test it. If the alarm beeps weakly, and the sound is not clear, it means that you need to change the batteries at the earliest. A non-working smoke alarm can prove to be incredibly hazardous and result in a tragedy as you would miss the signal for evacuation.

3. Get all the electrical cables checked: Another way to ensure fire precautions at home is to get all your electrical cables checked from time to time. Damaged wires and cords can cause a short circuit which is a potential fire hazard. Make sure no electrical appliances have loose wires and fraying cords. If you are using multiple extensions, remember to be careful.

4. Keep your stove clean: While we speak of home fire safety, it is essential to address the oven and stove in the kitchen. You stove does not randomly combust due to your cooking. It typically happens because of forgotten food particles on the burner, which can get hot and combust, if the stove isn’t cleaned well. Combustion can happen not only due to food particles but other random things around the stove area. For instance, if there’s a curtain hanging close to the stock, it can catch fire. Similarly, if you absent mindedly leave a cleaning towel or a recipe book on the burner, while it is still hot, it could result in a massive fire.

5. Invest in fire safety equipment: Besides smoke detectors, there are other types of fire safety equipment that can help you douse the fire and prevent it from causing severe damage. Portable fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire sprinkler systems and fire hose reels are some of the safety equipment that you should have at home. It is also extremely important for you and your family members to know exactly which one to use when and how. Not knowing how to use basic home fire safety equipment can result in an accident.

6. Turn off your hair styling equipment in the bedroom or bathroom: People who use hairstyling equipment regularly, like hair dryers, hair straighteners and curling tongs, typically keep these things in their bedrooms or bathrooms. They may forget to turn off these devices, which can lead to a fire, and possible damage to the room where the equipment is stored. As a house fire safety measure, it is recommended that you not only switch off the hair styling equipment, but also detach it from the socket completely after use.

7. Create an escape plan: Have a fire-exit plan and practice mock drills with your entire family including children and elderly. Ensure all the exits are clear all the time. Everyone in the family should know where to find the keys in case you have to evacuate the house in a fire-related emergency. Mock drills can take your family’s preparedness a notch higher. Make sure children are aware of all the exits. Preparedness is essential to keep your home safe from any unfortunate turn of events.

8. Check the necessary switches before leaving your home:The simplest of all house fire prevention tips is to check all the necessary switches before leaving the house. For instance, always ensure the water geyser is switched off. Turn off the gas cylinder and switch off the microwave. This way, you are protecting your house from any hazardous accidents in your absence.

A house fire is every family’s worst nightmare but with better planning, it doesn’t have to end in a tragedy. The best course of home fire prevention is investing in an all-encompassing home insurance policy. Having a home insurance policy can protect yours and your family’s financial future in case something unfortunate, such as an accidental fire, should happen.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.