As I sit at my computer writing this post, I’m celebrating the eight year anniversary of this blog, Resourceful Mommy. I’m proud to say that for half of that time, I have been working with Kidde to spread the word about important topics including home safety, fire prevention, home security, and the volunteer firefighting community.
Summer is a great time to think about home safety, and as I’ve done in the past, I’m using this time of year to assess how my family is doing in terms of home safety and fire prevention. In the past, I’ve made the following changes, among others, thanks to my relationship with Kidde:
- Created and practiced a fire escape plan
- Installed Kidde Worry Free Smoke Alarms.
- Installed Kidde Worry Free Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
- Added fire extinguishers where necessary.
- Placed fire escape ladders in upstairs bedrooms.
As I reached the four year anniversary of my time partnering with Kidde, however, I realized it was necessary to reassess my home and my family. Time passes so quickly, and it is so easy to inadvertently become complacent when it comes to fire prevention and safety. As we reflect back on past safety steps we’ve taken, we’re realizing that the following improvements need to be made:
- Set a regular time to go over and practice the fire escape plan – both day and night.
- Ensure that every member of the family knows at least two ways out of every room in the event of a fire emergency.
- Verify that every member of the family knows the fire escape plan meeting place to protect firefighters from entering our home unnecessarily.
- Make sure that each child not only knows where to find fire extinguishers and fire safety ladders, but that they’re actually able to use them.
- Ensure that there is nothing blocking entrances/exits to the home that would prevent our escape in a fire emergency or the entrance of a firefighter.
Please take some time in these final weeks of summer vacation to assess your own home’s fire safety and prevention status. This is the perfect time – without the distractions of the busy school year schedule – to go over your family’s fire safety plan and practice it. Not sure where to start? Visit Kidde.com to learn more about how to keep your family safe.
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored ambassador campaign. All opinions are my own. Follow Kidde on social media at facebook.com/kidde and on Twitter @KiddeSafety and on Instagram @KiddeFireSafety.