Fire safety is something that shouldn’t be overlooked in your home. With most fire fatalities in Toronto being avoidable (check out the statistics here), it is worth it to invest some time and effort into making sure your home is as fire safe as possible for you and your family.
As a general rule of thumb, if you can’t remember the last time you changed the batteries in your fire alarm (or if you have ever!) or you don’t own a carbon monoxide alarm, it’s probably a good time to revisit your household fire safety knowledge and get yourself set up on a yearly routine. Below you will find some tips that should definitely make your family’s yearly fire safety checklist.
Fire Safety: 12 Safety Tips For Your Home
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
- Change smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries annually and when the low-battery warning sounds.
- Replace smoke alarms that are more than ten years old.
- Replace carbon monoxide alarms that are more than seven years old.
- You may have less than one minute to escape a fire in your home – practice your home fire escape plan at least two times every year.
- Keep all exits in the home clear and easy to use.
- Keep matches and lighters out of the sight and reach of children.
- Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking.
- Keep children at least one metre from the stove.
- If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove.
- Always blow out candles before leaving the room.
- If anyone in the home smokes, smoke outside