Although it may seem like it was only yesterday that you ran a check on all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making sure your home and your family are prepared in case of fire cannot be repeated too often.

Fire Safety Tools

Properly functioning smoke alarms are the first step in alerting everyone in the house of fire. Detectors should be installed on every floor, closest to bedrooms.  Consider installing an interconnected alarm system so that when one goes off, all of them go off.

A fire extinguisher should be easily accessible on every floor of your home. Learn how and where to store the extinguishers, as well as what types to keep in each place from Firefighter Insider.

Homes with more than one-story should have an escape ladder close to an easily accessed window on the upper floor. Safewise.com has a list of their best-rated ladders and offers tips for choosing the right ladder for your home.

One prevention measure many homeowners do not consider is the installation of lightning rods. Lightning rods may seem like an outdated tool, but they can save electronics from lightning damage as well as preventing a fire. Home lightning protection comes in many styles that complement the exterior of your home.

Fire Safety Tips

Is there a circuit breaker that trips frequently or a light switch that does not always work? These types of electricity issues are dangerous and should be checked out by an electrician.

Using extension cords seems to be the best solution when there are not enough outlets. Overloading electrical outlets is dangerous, so call an electrician to install more. The cost of a professional upgrade outweighs the cost of a fire.

Keeping the dryer’s lint screen and vent clean prevents lint build-up, making fire less likely.

Never leave cooking food unattended, and even though your children may like to help, have their station set up far from any hot items. Keep towels and paper products away from anything hot.

Besides knowing how to use an extinguisher, every cook in the house should know how to keep a grease fire from spreading.

Most importantly, set up a family fire plan, and call a family meeting so that all family members know what to do and where to go in case of fire. Consult the National Fire Protection Association’s guidelines and use the free printable tools to make your planning process go smoothly. No amount of time taken to put a plan into place and practice is too much when it comes to protecting your home and family from a fire.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Photo credit: istock