Kitchen Safety Improvements

By now we all know that smoke alarms save lives and in most states they are a mandatory piece of equipment. It's a proven fact that smoke alarms have reduced death by home fires by at least half since the 1970s.  Still a recent statistic is quite alarming.  Although almost 100% of the homes of United States reportedly had fire detectors, 25% of the homes in which fires were reported also had detectors that didn’t work.  This proves the adage that the presence of smoke detectors is not enough—these detectors must be tested and regularly maintained to be effective.

And although every level of the home should be equipped with smoke detectors, they play an especially important role in the kitchen. Remember too that smoke rises, so these should be installed on the ceilings or high on the wall near to the areas where cooking is taking place. There are a few other helpful hints to ensure that smoke detectors are placed properly and continue to work efficiently.

You should check your smoke detectors at least once a month and all the experts suggest that you replace the battery annually.  As well as having at least one or two smoke detectors in the kitchen area, you should install an additional alarm outside each sleeping area. Avoid placing alarms near windows, exterior doors, or anywhere where a draft may interfere with their effectiveness. It's also helpful to note that there are smoke detectors available with strobe lights for the hearing impaired.

A fire extinguisher somewhere in the house is also a very good idea.  A fire extinguisher can be used to arrest small fires in the home and allow family members to escape. However, you should not make the mistake of thinking that because you have a fire extinguisher in the house you will be capable of fighting a fire alone. Here you should know what kind of extinguisher you are buying: fire extinguishers meant for grease fires are different from those that are meant for electrical fires.  As well as the kitchen, you should install a fire extinguisher in the garage and basement. It's also important to position a fire extinguisher near an exit so that you can safely leave an area if the fire pushes you back.

Another option is the automatic sprinkler system that is designed to react quickly.  The National Fire Protection Association states that the chance of death by fire is reduced by 75% when sprinklers are present. It's important here that you get professionals to regularly maintain any sprinkler units that you have, and be sure that you don't paint any part of the system and include working smoke detectors as a part of overall fire protection.

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