Things to Keep in Mind When Preparing for Fire Emergencies

When it comes to making sure your home and family are prepared in the event of a fire emergency,

there are certain things you need to keep in mind. This not only goes beyond the actual fire escape plan and practicing it, but also prevention steps that your family needs to know as well. Here are two things you need to keep in mind when preparing your family and house for a fire emergency.

Preparedness goes further than your plan – When you are making sure that your family is prepared in the event of a fire in your home, planning your safety route is just the beginning. Necessary steps beforehand like how to prevent a fire from happening in the house, as well as education on how lesser known actions can start a fire are essential in prevention. Educating your family on how to stop a fire from happening with simple, everyday tasks can be what saves you in the end.

Fire alarm locations and sounds – This may seem like a pretty obvious step in preparing for fire emergencies, but making sure that your family knows the exact locations of all fire alarms and their sounds is crucial. This is especially important for smaller children in the event that an alarm does sound, since they may be disoriented by the loud noises and not know what is going on. Teaching them what the alarms look like, where they are in your home, and what they sound like is an essential part in any fire safety plan.

If you are looking for an emergency escape ladder to incorporate into your home’s fire safety plan, turn to us at ResQLadder® – the makers of the original escape ladder. For almost 50 years, ResQLadder® Emergency Escape Ladders have been manufactured to make sure you and your family are safe from harm. Always 100% made in the U.S.A. Learn more about our fire escape ladders today at ResQLadder.com.

How to Prepare for Commercial Fire Emergencies

There are around 80,000 commercial fires in the United States every year. These cause approximately

3,000 deaths, 18,000 injuries, and over $10 billion in damages.

Here are the top causes of commercial fires and ways to prepare for a fire emergency:

Common Causes

It is important to know how and where most commercial fires start, so you can try to prevent them. Common causes are:

·         Cooking: Typically caused by employees cooking places other than the kitchen

·         Electrical: Usually caused by violations of electrical codes or an overloaded system

·         Heaters/Boilers: Occurs when they are not maintained properly

·         Smoking: Workers smoking in undesignated areas

·         Arson: Usually happens in unused buildings

·         Storage: Storing flammable materials improperly

Preparing the Workplace

Here are steps to ensure the workplace is safe and easy to evacuate:

·         Have fire safety equipment including: fire extinguishers, emergency escape ladders (second floor and above), fire blankets, signage showing this equipment, and the evacuation path

·         Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

·         Put in a sprinkler system

·         Have kitchen hoods with fire extinguishing capabilities

·         Install an alarm system with lights and sound

·         Have emergency lighting

Preparing the Workers

Training is crucial in preparing workers to deal with a fire. Employees need to be reminded annually of emergency procedures. Topics to cover when training workers:

·         Places where cooking is allowed

·         Location of designated smoking areas

·         Proper storage procedures

·         Location of fire safety equipment and proper use of each

·         Operation of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment

·         Exit routes in all parts of the building and location of all exits

·         Shutdown procedures

·         Type and location of fire hazards in the building

·         Where to meet outside

When the fire alarm activates:

·         Leave the building quickly

·         Do not use elevators in a fire

·         Feel a door before you open it

·         Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch fire

·         If there is smoke, lower your body

·         Never re-enter until given the all clear

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.

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! 

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!