Practice Fire Safety this Holiday Season

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Before you leave for the holidays make sure you follow these fie safety tips.

Remember traveling for the holidays when you were a kid? The only prep you had to do was make sure you had enough outfits and your favorite toy. The Holidays are quickly approaching, and as adults, we have way more responsibilities when planning a trip. SERVPRO of Northwest and Northeast Cincinnati wants to make sure that you travel safely this year. That's why we put together a list of safety measures to check off before you leave.

Before You Leave Your House

Safety starts at home. Statistically, 7.7% of all residential fires start unintentionally or due to carelessness says FEMA. These fires can start while is no is home. For this reason, you should make sure that all devices and unused chargers are unplugged before you leave. If you use a charger that didn’t come with your phone, it may not be up to code with safety regulations. Leaving these cords plugged in and unattended could lead to fire damage. 

Your holiday lights can also be a fire hazard. Turn them off before leaving your home. Don’t forget to set all of your alarms before heading out. Finally, if you plan on being out for several days, don’t forget to ask a friend or close neighbor to check on your house while you’re away. This not only wards off potential burglars, but your housesitter can also inform you if the furnace has stopped working. A broken heater on a cold night could lead to frozen pipes which cause water damage.

Reaching Your Destination

Whether you pick an Air B&B or a hotel, there are still safety precautions you should take. Follow these steps while you’re planning your trip and after you arrive.

Air B&B

Due to regulations, Air B&Bs are not held to quite the same standard as hotels. Before you book the house, ask your potential host the following questions.

• ask about locations of smoke detectors
• ask if they have a sprinkler system
• ask if they have escape plans
• ask if they have carbon monoxide detectors

If any of these items are missing, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk. Please consider booking your stay elsewhere. 

Hotels

Safety measures for hotels are more tightly regulated than those of Air B&Bs. It is required for every hotel room to have an escape route posted. Legally several escape routes are required. Make sure to look those over. Familiarize yourself with all the ways to escape in the case of a fire. Locate all of the stairwell options. Always use the stairs when there is a fire. Elevators are one of the most dangerous places to be during a fire. 

The idea of not being able to escape your hotel room is frightening but a real possibility. If you cannot escape from the hotel room, NFPA says, “SHUT off fans and air conditioners. STUFF wet towels in the crack around the doors. CALL the fire department and let them know your location. WAIT at the window and signal with a flashlight or light colored cloth.”

One temptation you may have in your hotel room is to hang your clothes on the sprinkler head. Remember, sprinkler systems are there for your safety, not your convenience. Please, do not hang your clothes on these sprinkler heads. You could be held liable for any damages accrued and have damages to your own belongings. 

Above all else, SERVPRO of Northwest and Northeast Cincinnati hopes that you have a great holiday season. Stay safe and remember, should disaster strike, “we are always here to help."