Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. 

What is it about moving into a new home or having kids that makes you want to prep for any and all emergencies? Since moving into our home and having the twins, I’ve become a bit of a safety fanatic. We already had a few smoke alarms installed, but when I started baby proofing the house, I began doing a lot of research and I want our home protected and safe for my family. So today, I’m sharing all of the Fire Preparation & Safety Tips for the Home that I’ve learned in order to hopefully inspire you to ensure that your home is prepared in case of a fire emergency.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

First things first: smoke alarms! Did you know that 3 of every 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms?  (Source: National Fire Protection Association.) Also, Carbon Monoxide, an invisible, odorless, and deadly gas that can be produced by any fuel-burning device, is also known as the “silent killer” and is the number one cause of accidental deaths in the US resulting in an average of 450 deaths and over 20,000 emergency room visits each year. (Source: National Fire Protection Association.) Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can provide early warning in the event of an emergency at home. You should install First Alert 10-Year Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms on every level and in every bedroom, as well as in the hallway, near the stairs, in the living room, and don’t forget about the basement.

Did you know all states have legislation requiring smoke alarms? It’s the law! States like New York and New Jersey have legislation that just went or will go into effect that requires 10-year sealed battery alarms. California has had a 10-year sealed battery alarm requirement since 2014! You can click here to check the requirements in your state.

I didn’t know about the 10-year sealed battery law. We had a First Alert smoke alarm with a replaceable battery and a separate First Alert carbon monoxide alarm installed inside the twins’ nursery, but in all of the prep of renovating, moving into the house, and having the twins, I didn’t know how old the alarms were, so I decided to just replace the two different alarms with one First Alert 10-Year Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm. (You can also get a 10-Year Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Voice Alerts.) The benefits of a 10-year alarm include no costly battery replacements for the life of the alarm, no more climbing up the ladder to change batteries, and perhaps best of all, no late night low-battery chirps. Seriously though, why do they always seem to chirp only in the middle of the night?

But, the alarms don’t last forever, so remember to replace your alarms at least every ten years and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly! I’ve decided to replace all of the alarms in the house with First Alert 10-Year Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms and will remember to replace them all again in 2029.

Fire Extinguishers

Next, make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level including in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen, so remember to stay alert while cooking.

I was asked why we installed our fire extinguisher in such a prominent location and not hidden around the corner or inside the pantry, but honestly, I want everyone to see the extinguisher and know where it is when they’re in my kitchen. It’s not pretty, but I don’t want it to blend in or be hidden. Between us, our parents, our friends, and, in the future, possible babysitters, or nannies, other kids, etc., I want everyone to know exactly where the fire extinguisher is in case they need to use it.

Don’t forget to also have a fire extinguisher on every level (don’t forget the basement!) plus one in the kitchen and garage.

Escape Ladder

If you have a second floor, get an escape ladder in case of an emergency. And then after you get it, open it up and read the instructions and make sure it will work with your window and location and that you know how to use it.

I realize it’s one of those things that you’ll only be grateful that you have it when need to use it, but you’ll honestly be more grateful to never have to use it and just let it sit and collect dust under the bed.

Clean Your Dryer Ducts Annually

Have you ever seen the aftermath of a dryer fire? One of my best friends had a dryer fire at her house and it wasn’t until I saw the damage afterwards that I understood just how bad it could have been. They luckily put the fire out pretty quickly, but the smoke damage was extreme and much of her house needed to be remodeled.

Maybe it’s because I saw the damage caused by my friend’s dryer fire, but I now make sure to get our dryer exhaust vent pipe cleaned out every 6 months by a dryer lint removal service. The leading cause of a dryer fire is failure to clean, so I have a 2-man crew come in with a huge blower and a brush attached to a drill and they unhook the dryer vent and use the drill/brush to clean and then blow all of the excess lint out of the vent pipe. There’s always a lot of lint and I’m somehow always shocked because I clean the lint trap out every single time! But lint still collects in the tubing and the vent, so I make sure to get someone out here to clean it every 6 months.

You can also do it yourself with this Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush. It costs less than $20 and has excellent reviews!

Plus, we also have a fire extinguisher easily accessible and in plain view upstairs near the washer and dryer in case of a fire. Just like in the kitchen, having the fire extinguisher mounted onto the wall right there isn’t pretty or styled, but I don’t care because it’s right there in case we ever need to use it.

Here are a few more Dryer Fire Prevention Tips:

Family Emergency Plan

And last, but not least, you should have a family emergency plan. Be sure to both plan and practice an escape route with your family. The National Fire Protection Association has a couple of great free planning tools on their website including a safety tips sheet and a downloadable escape grid. Obviously, my babies are too young to go over an emergency plan right now, but as soon as they get to an age where they understand we will go over emergency prep and safety with them.

Continue to Content

Fire Preparation & Safety Tips for the Home

Print

Instructions

1. Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Preferably ones with 10 year, sealed batteries.

2. Fire Extinguishers

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level (and in the kitchen and garage) and know how to use it.

3. Get an Escape Ladder

After you get it, open it up and read the instructions and make sure it will work with your window and location and that you know how to use it.

4. Clean out Dryer Ducts Regularly

The leading cause of a dryer fire is failure to clean. I have my dryer duct cleaned out every 6 months because we do a LOT of laundry and the washer/dryer is located upstairs near our bedrooms.

5. Have a Family Emergency Plan

Be sure to both plan and practice an escape route with your family.

Recommended Products

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. It just means I made it easier for you to find something, so I earn a few a few cents from the sale. I appreciate your support of Salty Canary. Thank you!

• 
  First Alert Fire Extinguisher | Standard Home Fire Extinguisher, Red, 1038789
• 
  First Alert Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm with Built-In 10-Year Battery, BRK ...
• 
  First Alert Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder, Steel, Anti-Slip, EL52-2

Sharing is caring!