No one wants to think of tragedies such as fire striking their home, but it does happen. In fact, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, 1,482 home fire fatalities occurred in 2023 alone. It's best to be properly prepared for these types of events. A high-quality fire alarm can help you protect your house and family from a fire. Here are crucial first steps you should follow if a fire does occur in your home.

Extinguish the Fire if Possible

If a small to moderate size fire breaks out in your home, you can try to extinguish the fire. You should only attempt to do this if doing so won't put yourself or any family members in danger. Use the fire extinguisher in your home by following its instructions. Fires can sometimes be smothered out as well. If the fire isn't electrical, you can douse it with water.

Get Beneath the Smoke

If a house fire is extensive and smoke is collecting in your home, you need to get beneath the smoke to crawl to safety. House fires produce poisonous gases. These gases will cause lightheadedness and can cause you to pass out. This is how most people get injured in house fires. Crawl beneath the smoke to get to the nearest exit.

Check Doors and Knobs for Heat

Before opening an interior door during your escape, you should check the door for heat. If there are flames on the other side of the door, the door or knob will be hot. You should attempt another exit if possible.

Put a Safe Distance Between You and Your Home

Once you're outside of your house, you should put some distance between yourself and the house. There are usually explosive objects and substances within a living space. If these explode, those standing nearby can be harmed. It's also possible to continue to suffer from smoke inhalation if you're too close to the fire.

Call for Help

Once you're a safe distance away from your home, call for help. If you don't have your phone on you, ask a neighbor to call 911 for you. Make sure no one's blocking the way for emergency vehicles to enter the property, and don't interfere with fire or rescue teams once they arrive. Most importantly, don't attempt to go back into the structure to retrieve items.

These are crucial first steps you should observe during a house fire. Remember, installing a fire alarm in crucial areas of your home is one of the best ways to prevent injuries. If you're interested in learning more, please contact our team at Effective Alarm Systems, Inc today.