Even in the most careful and well-prepared households, fires can happen. It's frightening how quickly a fire can take hold of a home, so we've put together some tips that can increase your chances of surviving a fire.
Know your escape route
Ensure your family is aware of the safest escape route out of the home, and that it's never obstructed. Teach younger family members to stay low to the floor as they make their way out.
Drain the system
Turn on all your cold taps.
Stay low
Smoke rises. To maximise your chances of surviving a fire, remember to keep low. If you need to move about the house, it's always best to crawl.
Window safety
Windows with security gratings, burglar bars and other anti-theft mechanisms need to have a safety feature so they can be opened from the inside. These windows should not be nailed down or painted shut.
Extinguish the fire
If the fire is minor, it can be put out fast with a household A-B-C-type fire extinguisher or a fire blanket. Ensure you have these easily to hand and that all family members know where they are and how to use them.
Important information regarding our DIY help and advice
We try to make the advice on our website (www.HomeServe.com) as useful and reliable as possible. However, the purpose of this advice section of the website is to provide homeowners and private landlords with general guidance and useful tips only. It doesn't necessarily deal with every important topic or cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals and might not be relevant or appropriate in all circumstances. It is not designed to provide professional advice or financial advice and should not be relied on as such. Click here to read the disclaimer in full.