Fire Prevention And Preparation Guidelines

Fire Prevention And Preparation Guidelines

At Certi-Dry, we know how overwhelming fires can be, and with our experience in fire damage
restoration, we see many people struggle with knowing how to respond. We want to share some of the
fire prevention and preparation guidelines from the American Red Cross with the homeowners in
Madison so that they can help protect their families and property from fires.

Teach fire safety measures to children and all members of the household. Methods such as ‘stop, drop,
and roll’ will help if clothing catches on fire, and teaching everyone to get low when escaping a fire to
avoid smoke inhalation may save someone’s life. These methods are tried and true to help avoid the
dangers of fire, so be sure that everyone is aware of them. Keep a fire extinguisher in your home, and be
sure that all household members know where they are located and how to work them (pull, aim, and
sweep).

Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children, and talk to them regularly about the dangers of
fire. Keep flammable items at least 3 feet away from anything that gets hot. Turn portable heaters off
whenever you leave the room. Never leave a candle burning unattended. Use extreme caution while
cooking in the kitchen. Avoid overloading outlets or extension cords, and make sure to replace frayed
wiring.

Install smoke alarms. Smoke alarms can cut the risk of fatalities from a fire in half. The National Fire
Alarm Code requires smoke alarms in every level of the home, outside each sleeping area, and inside
each bedroom. You should test your smoke alarms at least once a month, and be sure to keep batteries
fresh and replaced. Teach everyone in the home or building what the alarms sound like and what to do
when they hear one go off.

Have a fire escape plan, and practice the plan routinely. Ensure that everyone in the house knows the
fire escape plan. An effective escape plan should have two ways to escape from every room, and a
designated safe meeting place outside of the home or building. For a fire escape plan to work, it must be
practiced. Have fire escape drills periodically (at least twice a year) so that everyone is aware of what to
do, and will be able to respond appropriately to ensure everyone gets out safely.

Designate a safe meeting place outside the home, and establish an emergency communications plan to
ensure that all members of the household know who to contact if they cannot find one another. Use a
nearby neighbor, and make sure that the emergency contact is aware of their role. Then, be sure that
everyone knows to alert 911 emergency services as soon as possible following a fire. Fires are hectic, so
having a designated place and person to report to will help provide a little more control amidst the
confusion.

If you have experienced a fire in your home in Madison, Certi-Dry to get the services for fire damage
restoration in Madison. The damage from a fire extends well beyond the heat of the flames. You can
rely on our skilled fire damage professionals to actively work to mitigate damage and completely restore

your property to its pre-loss condition so that all you have to worry about is keeping your family and
loved ones safe.