Fire Safety Equipment for Your Home

The most important piece of fire safety equipment that you should have in your home is a smoke detector. 

Smoke Detectors

There are two types of smoke detectors: ionization and photoelectric.  Both work effectively and will alert you to a fire.  The ionization detector is the most well known and is the least expensive.  As the name implies, it works on an ionization principle, in that invisible particle enter a small chamber and interrupt the flow of electricity.  Photoelectric detectors require visible smoke particles to break a beam of light

Fire Extinguishers

One should be in the kitchen and one in the garage or basement work area.  They should be visible, easy to get to, and mounted close to an exit so you will not end up being placed between a fire and the exit.

Flashlight

Make sure you have flashlights with working batteries.

Telephone

Cellular phones are better than wireless phones, because wireless phones require a working phone line and electricity to operate.  These phones also allow you to call 9-1-1 from OUTSIDE the house, if the house is on fire.

Escape Ladders

If your bedroom is on the second or third floor, you should consider buying an escape ladder.  These, in an emergency, can be placed over a window ledge, which will allow you safe exit from the building.  This needs to be used only when you are threatened by staying in the room.  If you have children, you need to practice using this with them.

Fire Proof Safe

Many office supply store have safes or boxes that are fire proof.  Any valuable papers such as insurance policies, passports, medical information, etc. can be kept here.  After a fire you many need some of these papers immediately.  

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