As a homeowner, you want your living spaces to be comfortable and welcoming. It’s also important to keep the house safe for family members and guests. Be better prepared for an unexpected situation with these safety essentials for the home.
Home Safety Essentials: Smoke Detectors
Approximately three out of every five house fire-related deaths occur because the home did not have working smoke detectors. Detectors provide an early warning in case of a fire, giving you a few extra minutes to escape the danger. Make sure your home has smoke detecting devices on each floor of the building and in every bedroom. Install detectors in the hallway outside of the bedrooms, in the kitchen, and in the laundry room. Have children help you test the devices monthly. They will become familiar with the alarm sound. Talk to them about how to exit the house in case of a fire. Set a reminder in your phone to change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice every year.
Night Lights
Night lights are helpful for at-home safety, especially for young children and seniors. Illuminating hallways, bathrooms, and the kitchen at night will make navigating the house after dark easier and safer. Lighting comforts children who wake in the night and night lights help older family members find their way through the home. Night lights don’t require a lot of electricity to operate and are easily plugged into outlets.
Fire Extinguishers are Safety Essentials for the Home
It’s important to have at least one fire extinguisher on every level of your house. Store the devices in easy-to-reach areas in case of an emergency. A fire extinguisher can put out a small fire in the kitchen or laundry room. Have your devices recharged when needed and make sure you and your family members are familiar with how to use an extinguisher. PASS is a helpful acronym: pull the pin, aim the device at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever, and sweep the extinguisher from side to side.
First-Aid Kit
We are lucky to have access to emergency response services by simply dialing 911. If you have a well-stocked first-aid kit, you can manage a serious situation until help arrives. First-aid supplies allow you to be prepared for minor cuts and bruises and for urgent emergency situations. Keep a first aid kit in your home and another one in your car. Every few months, take inventory of the kits and replace items that are missing or out-of-date.
Ocean State Home Inspections provides inspections to Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Contact us to request an appointment.