Fire Safety with Pets

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Keep your furry friend safe in the event of a fire!

Pets are a part of the family, and we want to make sure that they are safe in case of an emergency. We check our smoke alarms regularly and have escape plans for ourselves, but what about our pets? Here are some tips to keep you and your furry friend safe:

Check your home for potential fire risks.

• Are there exposed wires or outlets?

• Are there candles lit?

• Do you have smoking materials going on?

• Do you have flammable materials, like gasoline, in the house?

Do not leave your pet alone with a lit candle or space heater.

It is important to keep pets away from lit candles, space heaters and other fire sources. Pets have been known to chew on electrical cords and candles, causing fires that could be easily prevented.

If you are going out of town or leaving your pet alone in the house for an extended period of time, please make sure that a responsible adult is available to watch over your pet while you are away. There are many good alternatives to leaving them alone such as boarding facilities, friends and family members who will check in on them daily.

It is also important when bringing home new appliances such as lamps or heating units (such as space heaters) that they do not get too close to any combustible materials such as curtains or furniture so there is no possibility for accidental contact with fire sources if something were dropped. 

Ensure that all smoke alarms are working properly.

• Check batteries regularly.

• Replace batteries as needed.

• Make sure smoke alarms are installed in all bedrooms, hallways and on every level of the house.

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

• Test your smoke alarms monthly.

Keep cords and wires out of reach of pets.

Thick cords are more commonly used than thin ones, and they're a particular danger to cats. Cord protectors are available for use on electrical cords that run along the floor, but if you don't have them available at home or work, keep them out of reach by taping the cord up onto walls or taping it behind furniture. You should also consider putting plastic covers over exposed electrical outlets so your pet won't stick their little paws into them and receive an electric shock.

You may want to take extra steps when it comes to cables and wires in your home: it's easy for pets to chew on these things! If there's anything in particular that seems too tempting for your pet(s), try covering it with tape until the problem is resolved -- this will probably be pretty effective at deterring them from chewing on said object! 

Practice your pet's fire escape plan as often as possible so they will remember it in case of an emergency situation.

• Practice your pet's fire escape plan as often as possible so they will remember it in case of an emergency situation.

• Practice in different locations in the house, including outside the house.

• Practice under different weather conditions and times of day.

• Check your pet's ID tags. If they have disappeared, replace them immediately with new ones that have your current contact information.

• Teach older pets (over 7 years) to wear a collar with identification tags at all times, even if they aren't going out of the house or yard.

• Make sure everyone in your household knows where the key is located for the door leading outside of the house that leads to any area where a pet may be kept outside at night or under other circumstances when you are unable to monitor them personally during all waking hours (e.g., when you go on vacation).

Conclusion

The most important thing is to be prepared for a fire. Make sure that you have an escape plan with your pets, and practice it regularly so that everyone in the household knows what to do in case of an emergency. You should also take steps to prevent fires from starting—for instance, keeping candles away from pets’ access and keeping wires and cords out of reach can go a long way toward preventing accidents. Finally, don’t forget about smoke alarms: these devices are critical because they alert people when there is danger nearby!