Important Fire Safety Tools for Your Home

Preparing for an emergency takes diligence and planning. Make sure your home is prepared for the possibility of a fire or other emergency.

1. Smoke Alarm
Smoke alarms come in two types – ionization and photoelectric. These two kinds of smoke alarms detect smoke particles differently, which means they detect different types of fires. To be truly safe in case of a fire, it’s vital to have both types of smoke alarm installed in your home.

2. Carbon Monoxide Detector
Unlike smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors measure the presence of carbon monoxide in the air and keep track of how long it is present. They trigger an alarm if carbon monoxide is present at low levels for a long time or at high levels for a short time. Most carbon monoxide detectors also save peak values in a memory for later retrieval.

3. Emergency Evacuation Plan
It’s important that the entire family know what to do in the event of a fire or other emergency. During a crisis, we humans respond the way we have been trained to do. Kids, especially, need a definite plan to help them react appropriately to an emergency. Evacuation plans are not just for fires, either, it’s important to have a plan for any emergency.

4. Fire Extinguisher
Choosing a fire extinguisher is based on the types of fires the extinguisher will be expected to put out. Fire extinguishers are rated for certain types of fires. The rating for a fire extinguisher helps determine where in the home, office, or car it will be best utilized.
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5. Fire Escape Ladder
Fire escape ladders provide a second exit from any room on any floor. A fire escape ladder lets anyone not on the ground floor use a window to escape a home during an emergency. Make sure your multi-floor home has one.

* By Rod Brouhard, About.com Guide