My son came home with some very important homework this weekend. The task was to draw a floor plan of our house homework for Mommy or Daddy and discuss our Fire Escape Plan. I was very pleased to learn that he remembered our plan from last year (and the years before). This year, we have had to make a change in our meeting place as landscape dictates this for us, so we were thankful for this opportunity. As much as we don’t want to talk about a fire escape plan, it is important to re-evaluate every year and refresh our minds of our plan. This discussion can naturally take place while we are replacing the batteries in our smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. By making our children a part of this bi-annual routine, we are naturally in a situation where we can discuss our fire escape route and any other fire safety tips to ensure your family’s safety.

This past week was Fire Prevention Week. One of the strong focuses of the Canadian Associations of Fire Chiefs in combination with Duracell was to get Canadians checking the date on their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms!

Here are some important Fire Safety Tips:
Replace: When it comes to smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors, The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and Duracell would like to stress – don’t wait, check the date. Both smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors are crucial for notifying you if a fire emergency should occur, which is why it’s important to replace batteries. Test your alarm each month, and be sure to replace your Duracell Quantum batteries every fall when you turn back your clocks.

Plan: Map out the best way to escape in the event of a fire emergency.  Be sure to go over the plan with your family and even create a special day each year where you all practice your fire drill.  This way, you and your family can be prepared if a fire should occur.

Unplug: Don’t overload electrical outlets with too many plugs from your electronics. If your devices aren’t in use, check that they’re turned off and unplugged from their outlet. Also, when buying your devices, look for approval by a recognized listed agency like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Clean: Make sure your chimney and fireplace are cleaned annually to prevent a chimney fire from occurring. If you own a space heater, keep in a clear area so that there are no flammable items around.

Focus: Cooking is the number one cause of house fires, so it’s essential that you never leave food that’s cooking on a stovetop unattended.  Always monitor whatever you’re cooking, and make sure that your cooking space is clear of any objects.

Also note that there are safer alternatives to candles that can be considered in order to decrease the changes of a fire in your home.

This post has been generously sponsored by Duracell. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.