Homeowners insurance covers fire and damage caused by smoke but it doesn't cover the mental anguish and the fear that remains long after the event. Anyone who has ever witnessed a house fire know that it is a devastating experience and one that takes a long time to forget.
That is why, as a homeowner, or as a renter, you should take the lead in protecting yourself, and your family. You should learn and understand all the important lessons on how to keep your home safe, and in an event that there is a fire, how to lower the risks of injury or death.
Fire can strike at a moments notice, at any time and at any place and when it does happen, it may give you just a few seconds to make it to safety. We should all stay vigilant in an effort to prevent fires from starting in the first place but we should also be prepared to either fight the fire or immediately get out of it's way. Insurance can replace a home and it's furnishings, but it cannot replace a life.
Below are some ways to prevent fires and ways to help sound the alarm if one does occur:
If you see naked or stripped wiring around the house, replace it as soon as possible. Never run electrical wiring under carpets and rugs and never run wiring from the interior of the house to the outside through doors and windows.
Never smoke in bed and if you do smoke, don't leave lit cigarettes or cigars smoldering in the ash tray and don't empty ash trays in the trash before you are 100% sure that they are out.
Properly ventilate heating systems and appliances and make sure that all furnaces are in good condition. When burning your fireplace, keep it screened off at all times..
Clear away refuse and dried, flammable shrubs and plants from around the home.
Make sure that all fuses are the right sizes for your home.
Install smoke detectors and alarms as prescribed by city and state ordnances. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke detectors should be installed in every bedroom of the house, on every level, and in the main hallway just outside of each bedroom.
Fire extinguishers should be installed on each level of your home and in places that pose potential fire hazards, such as the kitchen and the garage.
Smoke alarms should be tested weekly and batteries should be replaced in each alarm at least once or twice a year. Batteries should never be removed from smoke alarms unless they are replaced immediately. Alarms and detectors should be cleaned and tested on a regular basis.
According to statistics, over 350,000 homes and over 16,000 serious burns and deaths are attributed to house and apartment fires each year and if not for the fire prevention techniques employed by many homeowners, that number would be much higher.