H.F.S.T. (Home Fire Safety Tips)

Weather you are a brand new home owner or have owned your home for a few years now, it is always important to set down some prevention initiatives for your home. These initiatives can make a difference when disaster strikes.

At Sturino & Associates, we want to make sure that you and your family are aware of the best practices to protect your investment, the following are some tips to prevent, detect, and escape in case of a fire at your home.

Prevention

• Ensure that all matches and lighters are out of the sight and reach of children
• Teach young children not to touch matches or lighters
• Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking
• keep children at least one meter from the stove
• If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove
• Always blow out candles before leaving a room
• If anyone is the home smokes, smoke outside
• Ensure that you have no overloaded electrical outlets or circuits
• Extension cords must be used only as a temporary connection
• Ensure that items that can burn easily are at least one meter away from space heaters or any ignition source

Detection

• Ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every story of your home and outside all sleeping areas - It's the law and the responsibility of every homeowner and every landlord!
• For extra protection, install a smoke alarm in every bedroom
• Install smoke alarms with a "hush" feature to silence nuisance alarms - never remove batteries of disconnect smoke alarms
• Use of Photoelectric smoke alarms may reduce the frequency of nuisance alarms outside the kitchen and bathroom
• Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed outside of sleeping areas in homes with a fuel burning appliance or attached garage - It's the law and the responsibility of every homeowner and every landlord!
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month
• change smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries annually and whenever the lo-battery warning sounds 
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have a limited lifespan. In general, replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old and carbon monoxide alarms that are more than 7 years old. Check with the alarm manufacturer or the manufacturer's instructions for complete details
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing, testing, maintaining and replacing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Escape

• Develop a home and fire escape plan and practice with the entire family - You may have less than one minute to escape a fire emergency
• Keep all exits at home clear and easy to use