Homeowners Insurance and Fire Safety
Just as there is a need for homeowners insurance there is certainly a dire need for fire safety.
In the U.
S.
, a house fire is reported about once every 85 seconds.
And in 2010 as a whole, U.
S.
fire departments responded to 369,500 house fires that resulted in 2,640 deaths, 13,350 injuries and $6.
9 billion in damages.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hopes that a little extra attention can result in a lot more safety.
What if smoke or flames block the primary escape route? That's why having two ways out is such a key part of any home fire escape plan.
Perhaps falling debris has rendered the planned exit path too dangerous to venture down.
It is much better to have additional routes out of the house, wherever possible, and even two ways out of every room in the home.
It's important to not only develop a solid escape plan, but to also practice it until it becomes second nature.
That way, if a smoke alarm sounds, everyone can think fast and act quickly - even if waking up in the middle of the night.
Most fires begin in the kitchen Cooking has been the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries.
In 2010 alone, cooking caused 42% of reported house fires, 37% of house fire injuries and 15% of home fire deaths.
Two out of every 3 home cooking fires began with the ignition of cooking materials, including food, cooking oil, fat or grease.
So in addition to having two ways out of the kitchen, it's best for everyone to study several tips to avoid the outbreak of kitchen fires - while remembering that fires can still start in every other room.
Here is a list of home fire safety tips recommended by the NFPA:
In the U.
S.
, a house fire is reported about once every 85 seconds.
And in 2010 as a whole, U.
S.
fire departments responded to 369,500 house fires that resulted in 2,640 deaths, 13,350 injuries and $6.
9 billion in damages.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hopes that a little extra attention can result in a lot more safety.
What if smoke or flames block the primary escape route? That's why having two ways out is such a key part of any home fire escape plan.
Perhaps falling debris has rendered the planned exit path too dangerous to venture down.
It is much better to have additional routes out of the house, wherever possible, and even two ways out of every room in the home.
It's important to not only develop a solid escape plan, but to also practice it until it becomes second nature.
That way, if a smoke alarm sounds, everyone can think fast and act quickly - even if waking up in the middle of the night.
Most fires begin in the kitchen Cooking has been the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries.
In 2010 alone, cooking caused 42% of reported house fires, 37% of house fire injuries and 15% of home fire deaths.
Two out of every 3 home cooking fires began with the ignition of cooking materials, including food, cooking oil, fat or grease.
So in addition to having two ways out of the kitchen, it's best for everyone to study several tips to avoid the outbreak of kitchen fires - while remembering that fires can still start in every other room.
Here is a list of home fire safety tips recommended by the NFPA:
- Careful when cooking: Whenever frying, grilling or broiling food, stay in the kitchen.
If leaving, even for just a short time, always turn off the stove.
- Give space heaters space: Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can catch fire.
Turn off all heaters when no one is in the room.
- Lock up the matches and lighters: Keep any and all matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children.
If possible, store them in a cabinet with a child-safe lock.
- Inspect electrical cords: Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, or have broken plugs or loose connections.
- Install smoke alarms: Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
Install a smoke alarm inside all bedrooms, and outside all sleeping areas.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year.
Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old. - Install sprinklers: If building or remodeling a home, install residential fire sprinklers.
Sprinklers can contain, and may even extinguish a fire, in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.
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