Whether you live in a house, unit block, high-rise apartment or other residential dwelling, a house fire can start for a variety of different reasons. However, there are many easy steps you can take to reduce the risk of fire in and around your home. Safety Dave is the trusted supplier of high-quality safety equipment in Australia including reversing cameras, TPMS, defibrillators and fire extinguishers & accessories. Read on for a few helpful tips to help you keep your home and family safe from fire.
Cook with Caution
Many house fires start on kitchen stovetops!
- Never leave your stovetops unattended when you are cooking, especially if you are cooking on high heat.
- Keep flammable items such as curtains, bottles of oil, oven mitts, and paper towels far away from burners.
- Use stove guards to prevent young children from playing with the knobs and accidentally igniting the stove.
When using a barbeque:
- Ensure it is a safe distance of at least 50cm from exterior walls, anything else that could burn, as well as any electrical ignition sources.
- Always turn your gas bottle off when you have finished cooking and test all connections to ensure there are no gas leaks.
Smoke Outdoors
Smokers should limit smoking to outside the home. However, when smoking inside, you should:
- Never leave a lit cigarette unattended.
- Always use large, deep ashtrays with water inside.
- Always fully extinguish cigarettes.
- Never smoke indoors if you are sleepy, drowsy, or intoxicated.
- Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
Clean Your Clothes Dryer
- Remove all lint from the lint filter and the back of the dryer before and after each cycle.
- Keep flammable items away from the dryer area.
- Check that the venting system is unobstructed.
- Never overload the dryer or attempt to dry items containing flammable materials.
Be Careful When Using Fireplaces and Fire Pits
- Ensure that you keep children and any flammable items at least three feet away.
- Fully extinguish fires before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Use a fireplace screen to prevent embers from floating through the air.
- Clean your firebox after every fire – remember to NEVER dispose of hot coals or ash in a rubbish bin, wait until it is completely cold.
- Have chimneys maintained once a year.
- Never start a fire with fuel, petrol, or kerosene.
- Avoid throwing anything into the fire pit such as paper or garbage, and especially flammable products. These can all throw off burning embers and cause harmful fumes.
- Make sure to have a bucket of water or a hose nearby.
Install Smoke Alarms
- You should install smoke alarms on each level of your home, particularly inside bedrooms and in their adjoining corridors.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace any low batteries.
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Purchase Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers can stop a small fire from growing out of control. Keep at least one dry powder fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location in your home at all times. Use only in case of a small fire and if you feel physically and mentally able. Be sure to have your fire extinguishers checked and tested by professionals and replaced them if they are too old.
Looking For the Best Fire Safety Equipment or Defibrillator for Sale?
Get in touch with Safety Dave today! As Australia’s experts in all things safety, we are proud to supply a huge range of affordable safety products to keep all Australians safe. Purchase an AED/defibrillator, fire extinguishers, rear vision cameras and more online today and have the peace of mind that your home or business is safe. Shop now or call us on 1800 072 338.
