Preventing Business Fires

When a fire occurs at your place of business, everything has to be put on hold. Not only is the property and equipment you’ve invested in at risk, but business fires put employees in danger. Purchasing an emergency escape ladder is just one of the precautions you can take to prepare your business for potential disasters.

Here are steps to protect your business from fires:

Report and Address Electrical Hazards- Electrical items that are broken can become dangerous. Fix faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment before these things spark a fire.

Maintain Industrial Machinery – Friction sparks and overheating can start fires. By staying on top of upkeep you can help prevent major disasters from occurring.  Ensure safety by servicing machines regularly.

Properly Dispose of Hazardous items – Follow procedures for disposal of combustible waste materials. Left unattended, these can make a small fire a much bigger problem.

Keep the Office Organized – If clutter starts to fill your office space, it can become an obstacle for evacuating the building. On higher floors especially, make sure there is an unobstructed path to the location where you store your emergency escape ladder. Also, out of control clutter can become fuel if a fire does start.

Store chemicals safely – Read labels on all stored chemicals to make sure these are kept in the proper environment. Pay special attention to flammable items and store these in a location that allows ventilation. Businesses that store hazardous goods must follow federal, state and local requirements.

Clear Control Panel Path - Make sure control panels can be accessed easily. This allows you to shut of the electricity quickly if necessary.

Monitor Appliances – Unplug appliances like coffeemakers and microwaves when employees are out of the office. Because computers, copy machines and other appliances are often placed throughout the office can all become fire hazards, you may want to put emergency escape ladders on both ends of the building. Fires often divide floors, making it more difficult to leave the building if there is only one exit.

Post an Emergency Action Plan – This document will specify where exits are and where equipment like the fire extinguisher and emergency escape ladder is kept. Post this information in a visible location.

Give the Gift of Safety

Holidays can be a happy and hectic time of year. Think of the ones you care for this season with the gift of safety in their homes. Here are a few facts about home fires and how you can keep your family and friends safer this holiday season!

·         Home fires result in death primarily between the hours of 11PM and 7AM. This is due to families being asleep and unaware of the emergency.

·         ¼ of all fire deaths begin in the bedroom. Having a smoke detector in every room of the house is essential for keeping your loved ones safe.

·         Cooking and heating equipment are the leading causes of home fire deaths. Keeping hot products on ONLY when someone is monitoring them will help to ensure the safety of your family.

·         According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), only 1/3 of all families are prepared with a home fire escape plan during a time of an emergency. 

Having up-to-date smoke detectors is the first step in keeping your family safe. The second step is to give the gift of a bedroom fire escape ladder. The ladders at ResQLadder.com are specifically designed for homes and offices in times of an emergency escape. Taking the time to equip your family with the escape system they need will provide you with peace of mind. 

Fireplace Safety – How to Protect Your Home

Cold weather is a cozy occasion to light the fireplace in your living room. However, carelessly throwing together a fire without making sure your fireplace and home are ready can be hazardous. You risk subjecting your property to smoke damage, burning furniture and personal items and damaging the structure of your home. If the fire grows, you may endanger your family members and force them to climb down the fire escape ladder in a panic – or worse.   

Review these fireplace safety tips to prevent disaster and ensure that your living room experience is pleasant and warm.

Inside the Fireplace - Use the flu properly. Open the flu before having a fire and close the flu after. Glance up the chimney to make sure it is not blocked. If smoke starts to fill your home rather than flowing up the chimney, there may be something obstructing the chimney. When you build the fire, avoid over-filling the space so much that the lit wood may fall out.

Around the Fireplace- If you have glass doors, open these while the fire is lit. If you have a firescreen, close this while the fire is lit. Move flammable items from the vicinity of the fireplace – furniture, books, newspaper, Christmas trees (these become more dangerous when they start drying out) and reserved firewood. Avoid using wet wood which can cause smoke and soot to build up. Your chimney should have a functional cap, preventing animals or debris from entering it.

Preparing Your Home -Make sure smoke detectors are working. These should be on every level of your home, in all sleeping areas and prepped with working batteries. If you have multiple stories, purchase a fire escape ladder to make sure your family doesn’t get trapped in case of emergency. If you have a few stories, you may want to purchase a fire escape ladder for each one.

Remember this: plan ahead to make your home safe. Make sure everyone in the house knows where your fire extinguisher is and it is easily accessible. While having a fire escape ladder and extinguisher prepares you, in an ideal world you won’t have to use them. As an extra precaution, crack a window while your fireplace is lit.

And never, never leave the house while the fireplace is running.

Fire Safety Tips for Multistory Buildings

Fire safety is important for everyone to know, especially those who live or work in multistory buildings. Having a plan in place before a fire is imperative. Also, if you have a home or business with 2 to 6 floors, having fire escape ladders would help people safely get away from danger. Here are safety tips you need to know in case of fire in a multistory building.

Know the Plan

It is very important to know about the building where you work or live. Newer buildings are built with fire resistant materials, metal self-closing doors and sprinkler systems so a fire will not spread. This means you might be safer staying put so you need to know that. If you are in an older building, review the evacuation plan often. Listen to the public address system if the building has one.

Know All the Exits

Know the location of all the exits, not just the one closest to you. The path to the closest one may be blocked with debris or smoke. Also, know where all the staircases are located. Always use the stairs and never take the elevator in case of fire. Never open a fire door or one that is warm to the touch.

Stay Low

Smoke is very toxic and can injure or kill you. If there is any smoke present, you need to bend over and stay low to be under the smoke. You should practice this during fire drills so you remember.

What to Do if You Can't Leave

If there is too much smoke in the hall or stairs, you may have to stay in your apartment or office. Shut the doors between you and the fire. Seal the room by applying duct tape, newspapers, clothing or towels around the door and air vents. Open a window but do not break it. That way you can close it if there is smoke coming in from outside. Signal the firefighters with a light-colored cloth or flashlight.

Best Things to Do in an Emergency

An emergency can be natural, like a severe storm or earthquake, or caused by humans, like fires, chemical spills, explosions, or violence. If you own a home or office building with several floors, having emergency escape ladders available will help family members and workers climb down to safety. Here are the best things to do during an emergency at home or work.

At Home

One of the main emergencies that require fast action is a fire. Fire can spread quickly so here are the steps to take:

·         Alert everyone and get out immediately

·         Do not delay by investigating the fire or looking for pets or valuables

·         If there is smoke, crawl along the floor

·         Feel a door before opening and don't open if it is warm

·         Never use an elevator

·         If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop to the floor, and roll. If you can't do this, use a blanket or towel to smother the fire

·         Do not go back into the home

·         Call 911

·         Alert firefighters about people or pets still in the home

Here are things to do in other emergencies:

·         Get your emergency kit. If you have to leave, grab it on the way out

·         Call for help as soon as possible

·         If an evacuation order is issued, turn off the utilities and follow the evacuation instructions

·         Tune to a NOAA weather radio if you are staying in your home

·         During a natural disaster, let others know you are OK by either responding to texts and calls quickly or using the Red Cross Safe and Well platform

At Work

Here are steps to take if you are at work when an emergency occurs:

·         Stay calm

·         Assess the danger

·         Get away from danger by leaving the area, following an evacuation plan or taking cover

·         Listen for instructions from managers or supervisors

·         If there is a fire, do not use the elevator

If smoke is present, go low and stay under it

3 Tips for Ensuring Your Family’s Safety in the Event of a Fire

House fires are a constant concern for safety-conscious homeowners. Fortunately, provided the proper precautions are taken, you can ensure that your family is able to escape unharmed in the event of a fire. Although house fires can be unpredictable, having a solid safety system in place can make the prospect of a large-scale fire seem considerably less frightening. In the interest of keeping your nearest and dearest out of harm’s way, put the following pointers into practice:

1. Regularly Check Your Fire Extinguishers

In addition to placing fire extinguishers in various spots throughout your home, you’ll need to check them on a monthly basis. The exact mechanics involved with performing these checks vary depending on the manufacturer and extinguisher type, so make sure to consult the owner’s manual and/or manufacturer’s website for additional details. For best results, your extinguishers should also be inspected and certified on an annual basis by a professional fire protection company. 

2. Invest in Emergency Escape Ladders

If a blaze traps you and your family on the upper floor of your home, a portable emergency escape ladder can provide you with a necessary way out. To ensure maximum protection, make sure each upper floor room has a ladder, so no matter where anyone is they have a safe way down. 

3. Test Your Smoke Alarms

A staggering number of homeowners neglect to test their smoke detectors on a consistent basis. While performing these checks may be tedious, doing so stands to save your life in the event of a fire. These quick tests help determine which alarms are working properly, which need new batteries and which need to be replaced. Luckily, smoke alarm tests can be carried out in a timely and efficient manner, ensuring that they don’t eat up a substantial portion of your leisure time.  

House fires move very quickly and have the power to cause a tremendous amount of damage in a relatively short span of time. That being the case, it’s imperative that you and your family commence evacuation measures at the first sign of a fire, prepare your emergency escape ladder and have a dependable alarm system in place. 

Are you looking for emergency escape ladders for your home? Check out ResQLadder.com today to learn more about our life-saving product.

3 Ways Landlords Can Encourage Fire Safety: Part 2

Building owners can have extremely high risks associated with owning tenant-occupied buildings. With the obvious benefits to ownership, there also comes intense responsibility. Here are a few tips on keeping renters safe in case of an emergency.

2. Give Each Tenant an Emergency Escape Ladder

If certain tenants don’t have easy access to fire escapes — or your building lacks fire escapes altogether — each unit should have at least one fire escape ladder. This ensures that tenants who don’t live on the ground floor will be able to make a hasty exit in the event of a fire.  

3. Keep an Abundance of Extinguishers on Hand

Operational fire extinguishers can prove invaluable in containing blazes and putting them out before they have a chance to expand. For this reason, take care to place easily-accessible fire extinguishers in each of your building’s hallways. Furthermore, make sure each unit is equipped with an individual extinguisher. 

As a landlord, the well-being of your tenants is not something you can afford to take lightly. If any of them are injured – or worse – as the result of a blaze, you may find yourself in hot water. Fortunately, up-to-date smoke alarms, emergency escape ladders and reliable extinguishers can go a long way in promoting building-wide fire safety.   

3 Ways Landlords Can Encourage Fire Safety: Part 1

Landlords have a lot to lose in the event of a large-scale fire or emergency. In addition to dealing massive property damage, these individuals are liable to have a number of lawsuits on their hands if the proper precautions aren’t taken to ensure safety of the renters as well as the adjoining buildings. As such, it is in the best interest of apartment landlords to promote fire safety and ensure that their tenants are well-protected. Concerned landlords on the hunt for effective fire safety tips would do well to heed the following pointers.  

1. Equip Each Unit with Smoke Alarms

In most states, landlords are required by law to equip each apartment with up-to-date smoke alarms. The number of alarms a unit will need generally depends on square footage. In addition to installing the appropriate number of alarms, you’ll need to encourage tenants to test their alarms on a monthly basis. If a tenant is unable to perform these tests unassisted, volunteer your time or enlist the aid of your building’s maintenance staff to complete the necessary testing.

For more information on fire safety, fire escape ladders and safety info for your business as well as your family check back on our blog as well as ResQLadder.com! 

Teaching Children Fire Safety

Talking about fire safety is one of the most important conversations you can have with your child. What they learn will help them in the event of any fire at any time in their lives. Consider talking to your child about these fire safety lessons:

Show your child how to safely exit a room in the event of a fire emergency. There are always two ways to get out of a room. If necessary, show them how to use an emergency escape ladder. Remind them that they should always use stairways and never an elevator.

Demonstrate how to use a door to tell if it’s safe to leave the room. Remember to look under the door for smoke and to never touch a doorknob when scoping out the situation. If the door is compromised, tell them to use the other exit.

When telling them how to leave a building, if safe, crawl on the floor and cover their mouths and nose with their shirt. This will prevent them from inhaling smoke or other dangerous fumes. Tell them not to stop for belongings or pets. When outside, tell them to stay outside and find an emergency responder if another family member is not around.

Teaching children about fire safety is extremely beneficial. In addition to your conversation, consider finding a community event where your local fire department is attending. Letting your child talk to first responders and see what equipment they use can not only be enriching for them, but can also solidify your safety talks. Either way, your child is bound to learn a lot and be safe in the event of a fire! 

Contact us today to learn more about investing in our emergency ladders.

Steps You Can Take to Prevent House Fires

Keeping your home safe from fire seems like a pretty easy task. Fire hazards are typically pretty blatant: keeping matches away from children, not leaving candles or open flames unattended, unplugging electronics are the usual steps taken. However, there are some smaller steps that are often overlooked. These are a few minor things that, if ignored, can cause house fires.

1.       Be sure you aren’t overloading electrical outlets. Multiple extension cords and items plugged into adaptors can short or overheat, causing a fire. Make sure you follow manufacturer’s suggestions when plugging in your electronics.

2.       Make sure portable heaters are not close to flammable objects. If these heaters are too close to things such as blankets, certain kinds of furniture, or other fabrics in your home, they can easily catch fire. Be sure to place heaters away from items and do not leave them unattended.

3.       Remember to empty dryer vents when doing laundry. Lint can cause restricted air flow, causing gases in the dryer to back up. This in turn can cause a fire. Clean out vents with every use and have machines serviced by a professional when not working properly.

While following these tips and completing other home maintenance lower your risk for house fire, remember to prepare for surprise situations. Frequently discuss your family emergency plans, go over where supplies are, and show others how to access and use fire escape ladders. By taking precautions and preparing, you can keep your family safe! 

Visit ResQLadder.com and place an order for an emergency ladder today!

The False Sense of Security Smoke Alarms Can Bring

National Fire Safety Prevention month is almost here. During the month of October, be sure to revisit your family’s fire safety plans and become more educated on related issues. With this being said, many homes tend to solely rely on smoke detectors to be their only form of fire protection. While smoke detectors are a great way to alert your family to danger, they do have some flaws. Here are a few reasons you shouldn’t only rely on smoke alarms for fire protection.

Some detectors rely on a power source while others rely on batteries. Battery powered smoke detectors are only as good as the batteries they are powered with. If you are great about changing the batteries, testing the detector, and putting in high quality batteries then these detectors should work well.  However, remember to replace batteries, test, and don’t skimp on battery quality.

Also, be aware of “false alarms” when it comes to your smoke detectors. Many are used to the smoke alarm going off when kitchen mishaps occur. Be sure you haven’t disabled your alarm because of these mishaps. Also, if you live in a building and fire alarms go off frequently, be sure to treat every instance like a practice run. Emergency or not, you’ll be prepared.

Smoke detectors can save lives in the event of a fire emergency, using only them as fire protection can provide a false sense of security. Be sure to pair your alarms with other safety measures such as emergency plans and portable ladders for fire escape. Check out ResQLadder®.com for more emergency escape ladders and emergency preparedness plans!