Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is National Fire Prevention Month and is the perfect time to gather your family and discuss fire safety.
Anytime I can get my kids involved in a fun activity that helps teach and educate is a win, win. There are so many important lessons to learn and being prepared for something as scary as a fire in the house is high on my list. Since this month is National Fire Prevention Month, I’d love to help remind you to sit down and talk with your kids about how to prepare and what to expect in the event of a fire.
My girls were so excited to see this fun red box of fire safety goodies arrive from First Alert. The first thing that caught their eyes were the shiny Jr Marshal Fire Safety badges.
In order to “earn” their badges, we went over our family safety checklist. This includes both tasks that I’ll handle as the adult and a few they (especially Emery) can feel ownership of.
We listed things like:
check smoke detectors and replace if needed
make sure unused electric items are unplugged
blow out candles
clean dryer lint filter
plan fire escape routes
If you need any help coming up with your own family checklist, this site has great ideas and information: https://clvr.li/firepreventionmonth
The girls were so proud to earn their badges after we chatted through our checklist and safety measures. You can print your own First Alert badges here and your own checklist here.
Smoke Alarms & CO Alarms
A few things to note about smoke detectors:
Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms should be installed on every level of your home and in every bedroom. You never know where you’ll be or where a fire may start. First Alert is my #1 pick!
Test your alarms regularly. Make sure everything is functioning properly and ready for an emergency.
Change the batteries in your alarms at least every six months. You can even add this to your calendar as a recurring event or if you really want hassle-free protection, you can upgrade to 10-year sealed battery alarm which eliminates the need for battery replacements.
Remember, no smoke alarm will last forever. Maintenance and check-ins are key. The alarms I have are the sealed battery alarms and it gives me peace of mind, knowing how much protection they bring.
Important stat: 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Ensure you add protection and test your alarms regularly. Ensure you do not remove your alarms or remove the batteries without replacing them. (Source: National Fire Protection Association).
Kitchen Extinguisher
If your cooking is anything like mine (kidding!), you might need to keep the kitchen extinguisher handy for an emergency. Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home fires. The First Alert extinguisher actually comes with its own mount if you want to place it on an easy-access wall or can keep it in a cabinet near the stove. It’s also recommended to keep one on every level of the home, but especially near the laundry, garage or outdoor grill.
Emergency Escape
In the event that a fire really happens, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible. Make sure your kids know exactly where they should go to meet you or how to check that their door knob is hot. Think back to all those lessons learned in elementary school!Plan and practice an emergency escape plan at least twice a year. Plan two ways out of each room/area of your home and a meeting spot, a safe distance from your home. (mailbox, neighbors home, etc.) That way everyone knows how to exit the home and where to meet.
Plan and practice an emergency escape plan at least twice a year. Plan two ways out of each room/area of your home and a meeting spot, a safe distance from your home. (mailbox, neighbors home, etc.) That way everyone knows how to exit the home and where to meet.
Do you have First Alert smoke alarms? I’d love to hear some of your family’s fire safety tactics or lessons you’ve involved your kids in. If you haven’t ha a chance to sit down and chat as a family, this month is the perfect opportunity!