Fire Prevention and Safety Tips
Fires can cause serious injuries, including burns, smoke inhalation, and death. These injuries can range from mild to severe and cause lifelong pain. Chronic pain and disfiguration are common for those who have suffered in a fire.
Fires can occur anywhere inside or outside the home, at schools, places of employment, etc. The key to keeping your family safe during a fire is to be proactive and educate your family about fire prevention, preparation, and planning.
The following informational guide will explore the main reasons that fires occur. These fire safety tips will help you, and your family, prevent fires in the home.
House/Apartment Fires
Kitchens are the most common area of the home that fires occur, most commonly with stovetop frying. This is the cause of nearly half of all fires in the home.
Other common causes include:
- Candles
- Smoking
- Space Heaters
- Electrical Wires/Lighting
- Wood Stoves
If a fire occurs on a property that is managed by a landlord, it is their responsibility to ensure that fire prevention regulations were met. This means that they are responsible for ensuring that the home/building’s wiring is in good condition, smoke detectors are operational, and escape routes are clear. Neglecting to do these things makes the landlord liable for these fires.
Workplace Fires
Fires can also occur in one’s place of employment, specifically if an individual works in a restaurant, another kitchen setting, or an industrial setting with hot surfaces. Even if a fire does not result, or is contained, burn injuries can result. These burns range in severity, but are painful, and cause lasting injuries.
Other Causes of Fires
There are numerous other locations that fires can occur. These can result in injury or death, and include:
- Truck Accidents/Tanker Explosions
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Locked Fire Exits
- Electrical Fires
- Defective Products
Many people have also suffered serious burns due to scalding hot water, pipes, and other surfaces.
Fire Prevention
The key to protecting yourself and is your family is to prevent fires from occurring. There are many things you should do inside and outside your home to accomplish this.
Fire Prevention Inside the Home:
- Check your fire detectors regularly. Make sure that batteries are working and that they are located in important areas of the home, including the kitchen, living areas, and bedrooms. There are fire detectors that can be set up to go off simultaneously in the event of a fire.
- Never leave matches or lighters around the house. Young children are notorious for playing with these items and the consequences could be deadly. Keep these put up where children cannot access them.
- Make sure that you have at least two fire extinguishers placed in locations that are easy to access in the event of a fire.
- Never leave your stove on when you leave the house, even for a short time.
- Do not overload your electrical outlets. You should also examine your electrical cords regularly for damage.
- Keep heat sources, including candles, wood stoves, or space heaters several feet away from flammable materials.
Fire Prevention Outside The Home:
- Make sure your building is constructed with fire-safe materials. This is critical in areas that are prone to wildfires.
- Create and maintain 100 feet of clearance around your home to act as a defense against wildfires.
- Cut weeds and dry grass to prevent increased progression in the event of a wildfire.
- Follow guidelines for burning debris on your property.
- Be careful and following regulations when lighting fireworks.
- Use caution when camping with outdoor fires.
It is important to pay attention to regulations on fires, including when and where they are permitted. These are codes and rules that are in place to prevent fires and protect the public.
If weather is especially hot and dry there are often bans put in place to reduce the risk of fires.
In Case of a Fire
Fires can happen anywhere and for any reason. Sometimes, despite our efforts, fires still occur at no fault of our own. It is crucial that you and your family are prepared for how to react if and when a fire occurs.
Practice Fire Drills
To prepare for the occurrence of a fire it is critical you and your family develop a fire plan. Many people, particularly children, often freeze during a fire and wait to be rescued. This does not end well for the majority of these children.
Create a strategy and exit plan. Make sure you have at least two exit points in every room that is easily accessible. Then, make your family practice their fire escape strategy.
Teach your family to get out of the home and stay out, regardless of anything, or anyone, that was left inside. Children should know which exit to take from every room in the house. Remind children of basic fire tips, including staying low to the ground and avoiding touching hot doorknobs with their bare hands. Reiterate: Stop, Drop, and Roll.
Your family emergency plan should also include instructions on where to go in the event of a fire. This could be a trusted neighbor or relative. Make sure that your children know how to call 9-1-1 and their address.
Additional Resources
Burns are the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States. For those who do survive, recovery is grueling, painful, and requires lengthy hospitalization.
The National Fire Protection Association is an organization on a mission to provide educational resources that have the potential to save lives. Visit their website to learn about common fire hazards and up-to-date related news articles.
Contact James McKiernan Lawyers if You Have Been Impacted by a Fire
Many fires that occur are due to another individual’s or company’s negligence. This negligence can occur in the workplace, motor vehicles, commercial buildings, or anywhere that codes and laws were not followed. Examples of these instances are when fire escapes are blocked, detectors are not functional, or a rental has faulty electrical wiring. These are only a few negligent causes of fire-related injuries.
You must reach out to an experienced team of personal injury lawyers immediately if you believe that a fire was the result of negligence. You deserve compensation if you, or a loved one, suffered wrongful injuries or death as a result of a fire.
Contact James McKiernan Lawyers today for more information about fire injuries and laws. Schedule a consultation to determine if you may be owed compensation.
