Home Safety Preparedness

Did you know that a fire can go from a hazard to life-threatening in a matter of minutes? If a fire starts while you’re asleep, you need to get out fast.

Twenty five percent of home fire deaths are caused by fires that started in the bedroom, according to the National Fire Protection Association:

Here’s how to fireproof your bedroom and home:

1. Practice fire drills:

Despite there being over a million residential fires each year, only a third of American households have a fire escape plan. Schedule a twice-yearly fire drill, and make one of those at night. This way you and your family are truly prepared.

With a fire, every second counts, so practice your escape plan quickly. In case smoke makes it dark, practice with your eyes closed or a bandana over your head to see if you can feel your way out.

If a fire starts outside your bedroom, practice crawling low to the ground toward the door. Practice touching the door knob before opening it. If it’s hot to touch, go to your other route for escape. If you Can’t escape, hang a sheet out the window as a signal to firefighters that you are in the room. Call 911 and let the dispatcher know that you’re trapped and where your room is located. Describe it from the outside so firefighters can raise a ladder to your window to rescue you.  Keep the window closed to prevent the fire from being drawn into your room. Confirm that you can easily open your bedroom window and that it hasn’t been painted or rusted shut.

Practice the stop, drop, and roll in case you catch on fire. Remember to cover your face.

2. Regularly maintain smoke alarms:

Have a smoke alarm in every room of your house *especially the hallways*, including your bedroom. Smoke alarms reduce your risk of dying by fire by half.  Smoke Rises to install smoke detectors at a level high enough to activate in the event of smoke. 

Choose smoke alarms with sealed-in 10-year lithium battery. If your house is currently using hard-wire smoke alarms, replace them with battery-powered models or install battery-powered models as backups.

Each month, test the alarm and clear it of dust. Every year, replace the batteries. Every 10 years, replace the smoke alarm unit or if it chirps signifying a low battery. Contact the Norfolk Vol Fire Department for a free smoke detector and leave a message. 860-542-5021.

Get a separate carbon monoxide alarm and place one outside your bedroom so you’ll wake up if it starts to beep. Carbon monoxide is a bi-product of combustion and builds up when a vent pipe gets clogged by snow, bushes, animals, damage, or a malfunctioning appliance.  Carbon monoxide is the same density as the air we breathe so detectors can be mounted on the wall or in an electrical outlet by the floor if applicable. 

3. Keep a fire extinguisher handy:

Most people keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for kitchen fires, but that’s not helpful if a fire occurs upstairs or in their bedroom.

Keep a fire extinguisher in your bedroom or close by. Buy a fire extinguisher with an ABC rating. This means they are able to extinguish fires caused by the widest variety of items, flammable liquids, and electronic equipment.

Every year, confirm that the gauge reads 100% full, and replace it if not. Train yourself on how to use a fire extinguisher and rehearse the motions during your fire escape plan (but don’t actually squeeze it).

4. Remove obvious fire hazards:

Do not light candles in your bedroom. Avoid using space heaters in the bedroom. Never smoke in your bedroom.

If you have a rug in your bedroom, avoid running electrical cords under it. Regularly check that all of the electronics in your bedroom are not showing frays or damage to the wires, and if so, replace them immediately.

If you live in an older home, hire a professional to come take a look at your wiring and replace anything that’s old.

Power strips and multi-adapters can wear out over time and get hot enough to cause a fire. Never overload a power strip and check your power adapters regularly to ensure they are working properly. I.e. USB Cell phone chargers, Telephone plug adapters, Connections for your TV and stereo, lamps, and power inverters.