After a long, hot summer, October brings cooler temperatures, colorful fall leaves and a hair-raising holiday in Halloween. It’s also notable for being National Fire Prevention Month, which serves as a reminder to take stock of fire hazards in your surroundings and make emergency plans to keep you and your home safe. We have a rundown on some October-focused fire prevention tips you can proactively use to mitigate the risk of a largely preventable disaster.
Smoke Alarms to the Rescue
Nestled within Fire Prevention Month is Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 6-12 this year. The public observance is sponsored annually by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), and they chose this year’s theme to be “Smoke Alarms, Make Them Work for You!”
The latest NFPA research indicates that a working smoke alarm in the home reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by 60%. It is arguably the one basic safety precaution that can most easily prevent a fire that leads to loss of life or property. The NFPA recommends:
- Installing smoke alarms in every relevant location. This includes every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Alarms should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Interconnecting smoke alarms so that they all sound when one smoke alarm sounds.
- Testing all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
- Making smoke alarms a key component in your home fire escape plan.
Get Fired Up About Lithium-Ion Battery Use and Misuse
As fall gets underway, you and your family will likely spend more time indoors using various electronic devices, including laptops, tablets, and the ubiquitous smartphone. This means a lot of interaction with electronics powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly found in home-based items, including toys, e-cigarettes, and even smoke alarms.
These batteries are dangerous if they’re not used correctly or damaged. They can overheat, catch fire, and even explode, putting significant risk to you and your property.
To mitigate fire risk:
• Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
• Put batteries in the device the right way.
• Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or a couch.
• Do not keep charging the battery after the device has fully charged.
• Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).
• Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire.
Forgo Flammable Halloween Decorations
Halloween decorations can be exciting to create and display. Unfortunately, many traditional materials used may create fire hazards. The NFPA reports that decorations are the first thing to ignite in roughly 800 reported home fires yearly. More than one-third of these fires were started by a candle.
Here are a few recommendations for the culprits that cause the most fire risk:
- Candles and fire-lit jack-o-lanterns create an eye-catching decoration that captures the Halloween mood and style. From a fire safety point of view, they’re a no-go. Rather than a flame-based light source, use a battery-operated candle or light. A glow stick would be a good alternative for lighting a jack-o-lantern.
- Similarly, use glow sticks or a battery-powered light if a child’s costume calls for a light source.
- If you choose to use a candle in any circumstance, place the pumpkin or decoration far from any flammable object, setting, or person.
- Keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks them, and they are easy to see and navigate.
- Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are all common decoration materials. They’re also easy to catch fire. If you use those or other similarly flammable materials, keep them away from open flames or light sources that emit heat, such as light bulbs and heaters.
By implementing the fire prevention ideas above, you can help safeguard your household from an emergency or disaster. If the unexpected does happen, though, you’ll want to find professional experts who can help clean and restore your home. For more information about fire prevention and fire damage restoration, contact ServiceMaster DSI at 844-413-3130. We are ready to respond 24/7/365.
