You want to make sure your home is safe for your family. The following safety essentials for your household are things you need to help you feel prepared for any emergency situation.
Keep Fire Extinguishers Nearby
One of the most effective ways to keep a fire from destroying your home is with smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. An extinguisher will put out a small fire before it becomes unmanageable. Stock the home with at least one fire extinguisher for each level of the house and one near the kitchen. Learn about which types of fires your extinguisher is effective against. Read the instructions so you know how to use the device before a fire breaks out.
Safety Essentials for Your Household: Smoke Alarms
Every year, people die in house fires, most often in homes that failed to keep smoke alarms in working condition. These tragedies typically happen during the night while people are sleeping. Make sure fire alarms are installed inside each bedroom of your home. Test the devices monthly and replace the batteries twice every year.
Have an Escape Plan
Have a basic escape plan that each family member understands. Design this plan as a family and brainstorm two ways to escape any room in the house. Teach children how to crawl below the smoke toward the exits. Place escape ladders in the bedrooms upstairs. Teach each family member how to use the ladders.
Create a Contact List
Your home should have a contact list that includes phone numbers needed in times of emergency. Include the numbers for poison control, your doctor, urgent care, utility companies, veterinarian, neighbors, animal control, and extended family members. Put this list somewhere that’s prominent and easy to access.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Use a carbon monoxide detector in conjunction with your smoke alarms. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can be deadly. Make sure you have a detector on all floors of your home. Check the batteries at the same time you check your smoke alarm batteries.
Include a First Aid Kit in the List of Safety Essentials for Your Household
A first aid kit is one of the most vital of all home safety essentials. It’s easier to buy a kit as opposed to putting one together on your own. Whichever way you decide to do it, make sure your kit includes things like adhesive bandages, tweezers, gauze, antiseptic wipes, eyewash, pain medication, and antibiotic ointment.
Disaster Kit
You need to have a well-stocked disaster kit in case of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other disaster situations. Again, you can assemble your own or buy one that’s pre-made. It should include:
- At least 3-days of non-perishable food per person
- Batteries
- Several gallons of water
- Flashlights
- Solar-powered phone charger
- Safety whistle
- Matches
- Cash
- Food for pets
- Prescriptions
- Battery-powered radio
Safety Essentials for Your Household Include Dead Bolt Locks
Improve home security by installing new locks. Any door leading into your home should have a deadbolt lock. Deadbolts make it more difficult for burglars to gain entry to your home.
Veriguard Home Inspections offers home inspections to customers in northern New Jersey. Contact us to schedule an appointment.