Protect Your Family This Fall with These Fire Safety Reminders

Protect Your Family This Fall with These Fire Safety Reminders

As the seasons change it is so exciting! The end of the year brings lots of outdoor activities, the changing of the leaves, and of course, the holidays are right around the corner. Unfortunately, it also can bring a rise in house fires due to issues that can be prevented if the proper precautions are taken ahead of time. With the cooler weather coming, it is important that your home or condo is fire safety ready.

Change Batteries

It is highly critical that you change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis. A great time to do that is when the time changes. If you always do it around springing forward or falling back, then you’re always going to remember to do it. It is important that you test and/or change the batteries so that the alarm can do the job it was created to do. So many people forget to do that until there’s a probably with the battery beeping or, unfortunately, they are dealing with a tragic event. Go ahead and set up your calendar to change them on a regular basis so that you do not forget.

Heating Safety Reminders

If you have a gas heater in your condo building, your property manager should inspect the building to make sure everything is running smoothly before the need for heat. If you have a central HVAC system, they will do the same. If, however, you use smaller space heaters you should keep these tips in mind.

1. Keep items away from the heater at all times. Do not put clothing or other flammable items around it as they can cause a fire before you know it.
2. Do not place your heater near your curtains or other fabric items.
3. Be sure that you turn the heaters themselves off before you leave or go to bed at night. Falling asleep with the heater on can end in an unfortunate tragedy.
4. Do not keep any type of combustible item near the heater.

Other Fire Safety Reminders

Be sure that when you use candles in your condo that they are never left unattended. Some of the Chicago fire safety standards in condos do not even allow you to burn candles. Be sure you check with your property manager before lighting one up.

When you’re cooking food on the stove, do not leave it unattended. Also, be sure you check that the oven/stove is off before you go to bed or leave the home for the day. Always supervise your children or teens if they are cooking as well. Teach everyone in your home how to use a fire extinguisher in the event a fire may break out.

Practice your fire safety escape plan with your family as well. Designate a zone outside to meet, clear from the building, and also be sure to know your escape routes from your condo floor.

These are just a few of the fall reminders you should keep in mind when it comes to fire safety in Chicago. Connected Fire Management is ready to help you and your HOA board to ensure that your building is compliant and safe for all the families who live there.