PREPARING FOR A FIRE DISASTER

No one wants to think of a fire outbreaks in his/her house, but sometime fire disasters occur. How ready are you for a fire outbreak in your house. If you are not ready yet, here are some ideas to get yourself busy with.

PREPARE A FIRE RISK AUDIT

This is quite simple. Inspect your house and write down spots you consider as hotspots, that is spots were you think a fire disaster can begin from. You may even decide to give different ratings to different points in your house. An example of this ratings include, no risk, low risk, medium risk, high risk and very high risk spots.

Example of high risk spots in your house include:points near electrical sockets, cooking equipments, rubbish close to your house, etc. Examples of very high risk points include spaces near inflammable substances, your car park etc. All you require to prepare a fire risk audit are writing materials and time.

KEEP YOUR CREDENTIALS, MONEY AND OTHER VALUABLES IN A SECURED LOCATION

Your credentials, money and other valuables should be kept in secured locations like banks and post offices. This will save you the trouble of having your valuables burnt during a fire disaster. If your valuables must be kept in your house, keep them inside a fireproof box. A fireproof box can be recovered after a fire disaster.

Alternatively, keep your valuables all together in a file, a briefcase, a folder or any other suitable container. This container should be kept at a low risk or no risk point, depending on your fire audit, nearest to the exit. However, it must be said that this last option will fail if you are outside your house when the fire begins.

BUY A FIRE INSURANCE POLICY

A fire insurance policy will save you from losing everything you have worked for when a fire disaster occurs. Fire insurance policies come in different names depending on the insurance company, but no matter the name, the word “fire” will always be in the name.
These days fire insurance policies are very elaborate. Fire insurance policies depending on the insurance company may cover collapse, explosion, fire, hail, lightning, smoke, vandalism, weight of ice/snow and windstorm.

BUY FIREFIGHTING GADGETS

Firefighting gadgets can help you prevent a fire disaster. However, they can only help you if you buy them and install them. Fire extinguishers can be used to fight fire at its early stages. Determine the classes of fire possible in your house and buy the proper fire extinguisher. Smoke detectors will also detect any smoke and sound an alarm.Smoke detectors should be installed at risky points in the house.

SAVE THE PHONE NUMBERS OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

This is not necessary if you have an emergency number in your area, or if SOS calls are possible. However, if you don’t have such numbers you should enquire for the phone numbers of the police, the fire service and medical personnel and store them in your phone.

KEEP YOUR HOUSE TIDY ALWAYS

The inside and the outside of your house must be kept tidy to reduce the speed at which a fire outbreak catches on, which will delay the fire and enable you save some of your property especially if the fire service comes on time. If your belongings are all clustered together, fire can easily move from one item to the next until everything is burnt.

HAVE A GOOD MENTAL PICTURE OF YOUR HOME

This is very important in situations were the fire breaks out while you are asleep. In such situations there may be low visibility in the house. A good mental picture of your home will help you identify the shortest and safest route out of your house.

BE FRIENDLY WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS

Good neighbours can help you prevent a fire disaster, or even help you during a fire outbreak. Neighbours can be of assistance if you are not around when a fire outbreak started. They can help you in calling the fire service if a fire starts while you are away. They can also call your attention when they perceive the odour of burning fuel. Many fire disasters have been prevented by good neighbours. But remember, that it takes a good neighbour to have a good neighbour. So, be nice to your neighbours today, because you don’t know when you will need them.