How safe is your home? Have you taken all necessary precautions to prevent fires? Have you established a safety plan to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings in the event of a fire?

Thousands of people across the UK have not taken sufficient fire prevention steps in their own home. As a result, each year many lives are lost and much money is wasted to the damages of fire.

Although it is impossible to prevent every home fire, there are twelve steps recommended by the UK’s fire prevention unit that can significantly minimise the risks.

12-Steps to Fire Safety

"Fire-Kills" is a section of UK government that oversees fire prevention and education. According to this organization, there are twelve simple steps that can help you, your family, and your home remain ‘fire ready’:

1. Install smoke alarms on each level of your house. Test the detectors once a week, and keep them free from dust and other foreign objects.
2. Develop a ‘fire ready’ family action plan, so that everyone knows how to escape in the event of a fire.
3. Ensure that exits remain clear from blockings so that everyone is guaranteed a suitable exit strategy.
4. Make sure all family members have keys.
5. Half of all fires start in the kitchen – take extra care when cooking. Never allow young children to be alone in the kitchen while something is cooking and take the time to teach older children how to use hot elements safely. Be extremely careful when cooking with hot oil. If you cook with hot oil frequently, consider having a fryer installed with a thermostat.
6. Limit your use of candles and be cautious whenever they are lit. Candles are a common source of house fires.
7. Don’t smoke while in bed. Cigarettes, if not properly put out, are a great source of danger for fire.
8. Close doors when a room is not in use. At nighttime, close as many doors throughout the home as possible. A closed door provides a barricade that can slow a fire’s ability to move through the home.
9. Prevent electrical fires by not overloading electrical sockets. Make it a standing rule in your home that there is only one plug in each socket.
10. Try to take special care if you are tired or if you have been drinking – letting your guard down can allow fire dangers to take place in your home. If someone else will be staying in your home while you are away, provide him or her with fire safety checklist.
11. Keep lighters and matches away from children. Ensure that anyone using an ignition device is doing so safely.
12. Don’t leave electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always turn off electrical devices.

It is very difficult to try to prevent all possible scenarios for fires. However, by taking the time to become more aware of the dangers inside of your home, you may be well on your way to protecting your family and your home from fire disaster.