Share:

When the fire alarm goes off, families must be prepared to exit the building without hesitation. In these times of chaos, it’s essential to limit damage and promote safety by acting quickly and efficiently. Here are four missteps to avoid in this scenario.

What Mistakes to Avoid During a Fire

1. Grabbing Belongings

If a fire alarm sounds, people often immediately think of belongings they want to take with them. However, they aren’t worth potentially losing your life. Once the warning goes off, head straight to the exit without hesitation.

2. Getting Overwhelmed

It’s natural to feel a sense of panic if a fire occurs. However, you can fight past this feeling by planning ahead of time. Create a fire safety plan with your family that includes routes out of the house from every room. Practice exiting the home to make it easier to know where to go if a real fire occurs.

3. Ignoring the Smoke Detector

fire alarmExit the house immediately if the fire alarm goes off. Then, contact the fire department and let professionals enter the home to ascertain the severity of the smoke that set off the alarm.

Place smoke detectors in the kitchen and bedrooms to alert you to the presence of a potential fire. Change the batteries every six months to keep your home and family safe.

4. Using a Fire Extinguisher Incorrectly

Some homeowners try to fight house fires themselves by using a fire extinguisher. These helpful tools can mitigate smaller flames but must be used correctly to make a difference.

If the fire alarm goes off for a small fire, aim the extinguisher at the base of the flames and moving the hose from left to right. If you are at all hesitant to try this method yourself, leave the home and let professional firefighters address the blaze. 

 

If you want to protect your home from fire, contact GMW Fire Protection in Anchorage, AK. They’ll help you create personalized fire protection solutions. Their expert team has over 15 years of experience making safety plans, installing fire alarms, repairing sprinkler systems, and other fire-related services. Call (907) 336-5000 or visit the website for information on their residential and commercial fire safety offerings.

tracking