Fire safety should be a top priority for every household. Accidents can happen, so it’s important to stay knowledgeable and prepared. Here are some simple tips that you can apply to your home in order to ensure a safe living environment.

Keep Flammable Items Away from Heat Sources

Never keep flammable items such as furniture near heat sources, like stoves or space heaters. In a worst-case scenario, the item could catch fire if too close and cause severe damage not only to the home but potentially harm people inside as well. When working with matches and lighters, never leave them unattended or leaving them where children can reach them.

Make Sure You Have Smoke Alarms Installed

Smoke alarms are essential components of a safe fire escape plan. Make sure you have one installed on every floor of your home and test the batteries regularly with the push of a button at least once a month. Additionally, install carbon monoxide detectors if your home has gas-fueled appliances such as water heaters or ranges – even if these appliances are not malfunctioning, they can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide that might go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Keep Your Chimney Cleaned Regularly

Chimneys build up soot and creosote which is extremely flammable, and having an unclean chimney creates unnecessary hazards for your family should there ever be an unexpected house fire, especially when the fireplace isn’t in use during winter months. Professionals recommend getting your chimney cleaned at least once per year or anytime you begin using it again after a long period of time without use.

Be Careful With Space Heaters

Space heaters should always be turned off before bed and kept away from mats, carpets and furniture since any part of these may melt from extended contact with the heater’s intense temperatures – increasing chances for starting a devastating house fire accidently. As an extra precaution never leave space heaters turned on for more than 4 consecutive hours with no supervision present in case something catches fire unexpectedly while unsupervised during this time frame.

Educate Everyone in Your Household About Fire Safety

Knowledge is key to implementing better practices throughout your home; all family members should understand what to do in case of an emergency evacuation or emergency response regarding how to extinguish different types of fires safely by utilizing available resources such as fire extinguishers located throughout the home instead of exposing themselves risky situations indoors by trying to fight fires without proper training or gear needed for extinguishing said fires correctly and safely.