The key to survival from any type of fires is a safe escape. Whereas commercial buildings have official fire exits and regular fire drills, most ordinary residences do not. Thus, during home fires many victims suffer from death or physical injuries because there is no specific fire exit and, usually, no formal training on what to do during a fire.

But this should not be the case. Although fire prevention is still the best measure to combat home fires, you need to prioritize and emphasize safety practices for you and your family to do during an actual fire. As accidents can occur any moment, it is always best to be prepared for any eventuality so that damage can be minimized. And since family safety is a top priority and escape is the key to survival, you should have an effective escape plan firmly established for the entire family to take.

While it is good to start planning for your escape during a fire, you should not overlook having a smoke alarm installed if you still have not done so. A smoke alarm alerts you that a possible fire is building up giving you the chance to escape.

Gather the family together and discuss the steps to follow and pointers to remember when escaping from a home fire.

• Since it may be smoky, get down or stoop while exiting as breathing and seeing may be easier in these positions. Cover your nose as toxic gases may be present in the smoke, and these may affect your mental faculties, or cause you to faint.
• Once you are out of the house, never go back inside for anything. Once out, keep out.

The type of fire may affect the progress of your escape. A gradually growing smoldering fire may progress without detection for a while before it finally flares up into enormous flames and tremendous heat. A swift flaming fire on the other hand allows a little amount of time before the leaping flames and scorching heat intensify. You should remember that in either form of fire, you should stay out once you are out.The following are a few specific tips to remember when escaping from either form of fire.

In a gradual smoldering fire:

This form of fire progresses gradually hence may not be picked up by smoke alarms immediately. But a photoelectric smoke alarm can detect a smoldering fire a few seconds faster than its ionization counterpart. Regardless of your smoke alarm however, be sure to go out as soon as you hear the sound of the alarm.

• If you have an established escape plan, it can significantly lessen the amount of time you spend in exiting your burning home. Thus, safety is more assured.
• As soon as the smoke alarm sounds, leave your home as fast as you can since you cannot predict when a smoldering fire will explode into huge burning flames.
• Smoldering fires generate a great amount of smoke so be sure to keep low while exiting to help you breathe and see better, thus avoiding or minimizing the inhalation of toxic gases which may be present in the smoke.
• Try an alternative escape route like a window or another door if your primary exit is blocked by smoke, flames or heat.

In a swift burning fire:

This type of fire allows limited time for escape. An ionization smoke alarm can detect a flaming fire several seconds faster than a photoelectric one. But these few seconds will surely count in a rapidly sweeping flaming fire which can determine your escape.

• A pre-established fire escape plan can minimize the time you need to get out of your home safely.
• As this fire grows swiftly, leave your home as fast as you can because the flames, heat, and toxic gases can magnify very rapidly.
• Again, use an alternative exit path if your main escape route is blocked by flames, heat or smoke.

Bear in mind too that in any emergency it is vital that your ability to think clearly and focus remains intact. Teach your family not to panic but to concentrate on the task of escaping to safety. It is even advisable that you regularly practice a fire drill in your home to ensure that every family member knows the escape plan.

No, we’re not talking about a collapsed soufflé or overdone pot roast. We mean actual risks to life and limb. When it comes to safety in the kitchen, what should you really be paying attention to? Learn how to avoid a disaster by following these simple kitchen safety tips.

Kitchen Safety Tip #1: Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy

Most house fires start in the kitchen, especially grease fires. You can avoid this danger by keeping your oven and stove top clean. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen. If you experience a grease fire:

• If your stove catches on fire, turn off the burners or oven, if you can.
• Most importantly, NEVER pour water on a grease fire. Water just moves the grease around, aggravating your grease fire.
• Instead, use a lid or larger pan to cover the grease fire. You can also use baking soda or salt on small grease fires. And you can smother an oven fire by keeping the door closed. Of course, a kitchen fire extinguisher is better. Always use the dry, multipurpose type rated for class A, B and C fires, and check it periodically to make sure it’s fully charged.
• If the fire won’t die or begins to spread, call the fire department and get to safety immediately.
• Not all kitchen fires start when you’re present, so change the batteries in your smoke detector annually, and get a new smoke detector every 10 years.

Kitchen Safety Tip #2: Pay Attention to Handles, Utensils and Sleeves

Always turn pan handles inward toward the center of your stove when you’re cooking. Store utensils in a handy place, so you don’t have to reach across hot burners to grab a spatula to flip a burger or stir a pot. Avoid wearing long, loose sleeves that hang over burners and might catch on handles.

Kitchen Safety Tip #3: Enforce Safety Rules in the Kitchen

Your kitchen is not a playground. While you won’t want to banish your children entirely, it’s always good to take a look at your kitchen from their point of view. Are handles dangling close to highchairs?

Are burner knobs accessible? Even placemats can be hazardous: They will easily scatter cutlery and break glass when pulled on. Older kids can be just as problematic as toddlers, because of their inattention and tendency to dash through rooms.

To maximize safety in the kitchen, supervise your children. If your kids aren’t helping out with tasks that teach them age-appropriate kitchen skills safely, they may belong elsewhere.

Kitchen Safety Tip #4: Treat Sharp Items with Respect

Keep sharp blades out of reach when they’re not in use. Store your knives properly, in knife guards or a butcher block. Never leave knives in a sink full of water, where children, pets or someone washing dishes may encounter them unexpectedly.

Use cutting boards so knives don’t accidentally skid off the counter. Sharp knives cut smoothly and predictably. Get a knife sharpener and use it. And whenever possible, use higher-quality cutlery, because it is less prone to bend or snap. And when it comes to the whirling blades of the disposal, food processor or blender, be cautious. Never reach inside, and always unplug if possible immediately after use.

We all know seatbelts and bicycle helmets save lives. We also know, and teach our children, to look both ways when crossing a street and to never talk to strangers, but these precautionary measures don’t prevent accidents from occurring in our own homes. More than 75% of all injuries occur in the home or surrounding areas, and a set of home safety tips can prevent the majority of all home accidents. The following home safety tips teach you how to ensure your and your children’s safety in the two most used areas of your home.

Home Safety Tips for the Kitchen:

The kitchen is home to many different life-threatening objects and substances. Each year, more than one thousand children are killed by ingesting poisonous substances, but the majority of households still keep cleaning supplies, such as bleach and ammonia, under the kitchen sink, at kid level. “Junk drawers,” which are found in most kitchens, are usually full of everything from ink pens and thumb tacks to scissors and super glue. All of these things, when in a child’s hands, are extremely dangerous. When properly integrated, the following home safety tips, designated for your kitchen, keep your child out of harm’s way. Install child-proof door and drawer locks throughout your kitchen. Monitor your child, no matter his or her age, every time he or she cooks. Keep kitchen utensils such as knives and glass dishes in high-up cabinets. Store all harmful cleaning products out of your child’s reach. Use the back burners, which your child can’t access, whenever you cook. Stay in the room when kitchen appliances, such as deep fryers, blenders, stoves, and microwaves, are used.

Incorporating these kitchen-specific home safety tips into your home improves your chances of not spending tonight at the emergency room.

Home Safety Tips for Living Areas