The winter holiday season often evokes a myriad of warm and joyful memories. However, it's vital to prevent these celebrations from becoming dangerously overheated. Familiarity with essential safety measures such as testing a smoke alarm, using a fire extinguisher, and devising a home fire escape strategy can significantly mitigate the risk of fires. To aid in your pursuit of a safe, festive season, CrossCountry Mortgage offers a comprehensive Fire Safety Checklist, as well as our top safety tips outlined below.
Festive Fire Statistics: The Frosty Facts
Did you know that the winter holiday season witnesses nearly 47,000 fires, leading to hundreds of unfortunate fatalities, thousands of injuries, and incurring more than $554 million in property damage? These fires are primarily attributed to cooking, electrical faults, and open flames, according to fire authorities.
As the frequency of holiday fires rises each year, it's important to remember these alarming statistics before embarking on your festive preparations this season:
- Heat sources placed too close to combustible objects ignite 1 in 5 fire-related deaths.
- Approximately 2/3 of home fire fatalities are due to fires in residences without smoke alarms or with non-functional alarms.
- Almost half (48%) of all reported home fires involve cooking equipment.
- Bedrooms are the ignition point for a third of all candle fires.
While these holiday fire statistics may seem daunting, you can significantly lower these risks by implementing the advice from CrossCountry Mortgage's Fire Safety Checklist. Below, we present the key points.
Fire Safety Measures: Smoke Alarm Testing
Undoubtedly, installing smoke alarms on each floor of your house and in bedrooms and sleeping areas can slash your home fire fatality risk by half. Thus, knowing how to test a smoke alarm is a must.
Establish a monthly routine to ensure that your smoke detectors are functional. Replace batteries when necessary, and don't forget to replace the smoke detectors themselves at least every decade, adhering to the manufacturer's guidelines.
Fire Safety Measures: Fire Extinguisher Usage
Keeping a fire extinguisher at home isn't a commitment to single-handedly battle a fire; instead, it provides a means to control minor fires until professional help arrives. Your extinguishers should be stored in areas with high fire risks, such as the kitchen or near fireplaces, yet be easily accessible.
Be familiar with the usage of a fire extinguisher before the need arises. For most domestic situations, an ABC multi-purpose extinguisher is recommended.
Fire Safety Measures: Creating a Home Fire Escape Plan
The sounding of a smoke alarm leaves you with mere minutes to evacuate your home safely. Therefore, it's crucial to have a well-planned and practiced home fire escape strategy.
Fire Safety Measures: Holiday Decoration Guidelines
Maintaining a well-hydrated Christmas tree can reduce the likelihood of fires. If you prefer artificial trees, ensure they carry a fire-resistant label before purchasing.
Remember to exercise caution when using holiday candles. Despite their festive allure, they are responsible for numerous injuries and substantial property damage each year.
Fire Safety Measures: Home Heating Safety Protocols
When using a space heater, remember that it requires space. Heating equipment ranks second in leading causes of house fires and third in causing home fire-related fatalities.
Ensure to manage electrical cords properly during holiday decoration. Stringing together more than three strands of lights may overload the fuse and spark a fire.
While it's challenging to predict every potential home fire scenario, it's quite simple to create a safer home environment. For further information about holiday home safety, visit www.nfpa.org.
Is it Frosty Love In The Air?
Discovering the perfect home can lead to dilemmas about the right time to make a move. Consult your trusted Mortgage Advisor at CrossCountry Mortgage to help you navigate through your options and take a confident leap in your homebuying journey. For more homeowner tips and advice, visit our blog.
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