Keeping the Home You Love Safe

As the end of winter approaches, people’s thoughts often lead to spring-cleaning. This blog post is about a different sort of spring-cleaning activity that may save your home and your family! (And it doesn't involve dusting.) I'm writing about inspecting the things in our home made for safety - ours and the safety of our house itself. This can be done even if we are still snow-challenged. Let’s Get Started!

Smoke Alarms

If your smoke alarms require batteries, and it has been several months since they were last changed, replace those batteries. You don't want to wait until after they have worn out! Many people replace smoke alarm batteries when our clocks are changed in the spring as daylight savings time begins and again in the autumn when it has ended. Remember to test the smoke alarms by pushing the test button on each one.

Smoke alarms are some of the most important safety tools in your home. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (a department of FEMA), there should be a smoke alarm in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and at least one smoke alarm on each floor of your house. Here is more information from the U.S. Fire Administration on installing smoke alarms in our homes and their general care. If you are renting, speak to the landlord if more smoke alarms need to be installed.

The two most common types of smoke alarms are ionization and photoelectric. Both types work to alert us of a dangerous fire or smoke situation and it is recommended to have both in the home. A statement from the U.S. Fire Administration on these two types of smoke alarms is here.

If someone in your home has deactivated the smoke alarm near the kitchen area because it goes off every time cooking produces some smoke, most likely the alarm uses ionization. Consider replacing it with a photoelectric one.

You can call your local fire department if you need help choosing the type of alarm to install, or ask questions about installation and their general care. Most fire departments have a public education officer who will be able to assist you.

The U.S. Fire Administration has also produced this flyer giving additional home fire safety advice for people with physical disabilities.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers help protect the people in the home and your belongings by making it possible to put out small fires or suppressing them until the fire department arrives. Does your home have fire extinguishers? If not, add at least one to your shopping list. If yes, are they fully charged? Do you know how to use one? Again, contact your local fire department if you have any questions.

It is recommended to have one accessible to your kitchen cooking area but also one on each floor of the home. Remember, while they are useful tools for a small fire, your personal safety is most important. If it is necessary to escape the building, do so.

The U.S. Fire Administration offers advice on purchasing a fire extinguisher, its placement location in the house and its use here.

Here is their video on putting out common kitchen fires.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can be deadly. Because it is produced by gas fuels such as natural gas, propane, gasoline and firewood, it is important to install Carbon Monoxide alarms in our homes. They are not yet as commonly used in residences as smoke alarms. If your home does not have any installed, they should also go on your shopping list. Installation recommendations are similar to smoke alarms. If your home is equipped with them (and it is recommended to have multiple CM alarms), the batteries should be checked and replaced in the same manner as the smoke alarms.

The New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs has published a brochure on the risk of Carbon Monoxide in our homes.

Emergency Lighting and Flashlights

To be prepared for power outages, do a quick walk through your home. Are all the light bulbs working (including any outside, in the garage, basement, and/or sheds)? You don't want to be in the dark during an emergency!

1. Emergency Lighting: I learned this tip from a fire inspector who was doing an inspection at my previous workplace. There are emergency lights that run on a battery that can be plugged into an electrical outlet at home. When the power is on, the emergency light stays off. However, when the power goes out, the emergency light will come on. At my home, we have an emergency light at the top of each staircase. And they each can also be used as a flashlight. You can purchase emergency lights at your local hardware store or look online. Here’s a brief article explaining the basics of residential emergency lighting.

2. Flashlights: Do you have a couple extra flashlights in your home? Collect them all. Check to see that they are working and ensure you have sufficient batteries plus extras. Keep all the flashlights in a central spot. If you have an electrical fuse box or circuit breaker, keep one beside it. Ours are in a cupboard in the kitchen along with a battery powered emergency radio.

The NJ Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) has advice on preparing for power outages. The Red Cross has also published information on portable generator safety.

Doorways

Imagine that it is the middle of the night. The power is out and everything is black. Could you or your family get out of the house safely? Look carefully at all your doorways. Are there clear paths to your exit doors, front and back? Can the doors be fully opened? Is there clutter, backpacks, boxes, shoes, coats, and other things in the way? Or worse yet, is there a chair, desk, or table blocking the exit?

Take the time to clear pathways to your home’s exit doors. Walk through your home. Remove clutter from the exits and the stairways. This is a good habit to get into before you or your family goes to bed. Not only does it keep your entranceways looking neat, but in an emergency it will save lives!

Emergency Escape Plan

It is important to seasonally review your or your family's escape plan. If you haven’t set up an escape plan, now is the time to do it! This escape plan has to include ALL residents of the home, including children and seniors. If you have dogs or cats be certain that they are wearing collars and up-to-date identification.

Here is information from the U.S Fire Administration to help you and your household make an emergency escape plan. Set a time when everyone is home to do practice runs. Ensure everyone knows where is the designated meeting place to go after escaping the house.

Last, but not least - Your Insurance Policy

I will never forget the horror of coming home one day to find the apartment complex next door engulfed in flames. Many people lost everything they owned that day. I had only been married for a year and we had very few belongings, but we realized that it would be difficult to replace those belongings if we didn't have insurance. The following week, we had renter's insurance.

Your last challenge is to dig out your renters or homeowners insurance policy. Read it over (however boring it may be), and get familiar with it. Know what is required to protect your home and your belongings. Know what coverage you would have if there was a physical disaster. Homeowners, do you need flood insurance? If you cannot find your policy, call your insurance agent or go online and request another copy. And of course, now that you’ve read carefully through the policy, call if you need to ask any questions that you may have or to make any changes.

Is your home owner’s insurance up for renewal soon? Write the expiration date on whatever type of calendar you use so you will renew in time. The last thing you want to be doing is trying to renew an expired insurance policy during an emergency. Most insurance companies will not insure new or renewing customers if their homes or belongings are in possible imminent danger (i.e. forecasted hurricane, flooding, or wildfire).

Take care of you, your family, your belongings, and your home! 

Natural Disaster Preparations

Discussing the importance of emergency preparedness easily leads to the topics of sheltering-in-place, Family Disaster kits, and evacuating before a natural disaster. While this is beyond the scope of a short blog on home safety, let me share a few reliable sources on this important information.

NJOEM provides a dashboard for times of natural and man-made emergencies here. It also offers guidance for preparing to both shelter-in-place and evacuate in the face of a natural disaster.

Mercer County has published information that covers much of the basics I’ve discussed and more in an emergency preparation booklet titled “Preparing for Emergencies.”

Ready.gov, a U.S. government website, includes a guide titled, “Are You Ready” loaded with preparation information on a large variety of emergency situations.

- Kim Luke, Hightstown Branch