- Smoke alarms are essential. If you don’t have them, install them or have them installed by a North Carolina-certified electrician.
- Maintain your smoke alarms – to make sure they are working properly, test your smoke alarms at least once a year by pressing the test button to be sure the alarm is working. And don’t let them get too old – consider replacing all smoke alarms in your home every 7-10 years.
- When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside. Then call 911 and stay outside until the fire department says it’s safe to re-enter your home.
- Connecting additional smoke alarm detectors to your security system and monitoring them can add additional peace of mind—when the alarm sounds, the fire department is automatically called and can be dispatched. With a hardwired home security system, auxiliary smoke/heat/CO sensors don’t have batteries that require changing and have a backup battery for when the power is out. Also, many of Secur-Tek’s additional smoke alarms sound at the keypad – so you don’t have another beeping unit on your ceiling. It sounds at the keypad and can be cleared when the smoke/issue has passed.
- Kitchen fires caused by unattended cooking are a major cause of fires. Don’t leave items unattended and remember to turn all pot handles inward.
- Ensure your fireplace screen covers the entire fireplace
- Have proper ventilation for heaters and other small appliances
- Use the correct size fuses and check for worn-out electrical wiring
- If you use many Lithium-ion batteries, Install Heat Sensors. Many insurance companies require a monitored heat detector in the garage if an EV charger is installed.
- Walk through your home and identify at least two ways out of each room. If windows or doors are blocked, clear them so they can be opened
- For two-story houses, consider equipping bedrooms with escape ladders to provide additional exits. This safety feature is best added during construction and Secur-Tek has these in stock.
- Decide who should assist small children or infants out of the home.
- Assign a meeting spot outside that is a safe distance away from your house – like the mailbox, tree, or neighbor’s house
- Ensure your street address is visible for first responders to see
- If you have children, teach them how to call 9-1-1 after arriving at your meeting spot and help them memorize your home address
- Once you have your escape plan, stage a practice fire drill **.