Best Security Products blog

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means the kitchen will be filled with family, friends and lots of activity. Taking a few fire safety precautions is a smart way to keep everyone safe and ensure a happy holiday experience.

The National Fire Protection Association has published some safety tips to make your Thanksgiving safer. Click below to watch the whole video. We’ve pulled out the main points for you.

1. Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the top of the stove.

2. It takes a while to cook a turkey, but that is no reason to wander off. Don’t go far from the kitchen, and be sure to check the turkey frequently.

3. Keep children at least 3 feet away from the area you are cooking in. Also, make sure matches and utility lighters out of their reach. The best place is high up in a locked cabinet.

4. Test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working. You can do this by pushing the test buttons located on each device.

5. If a fire does occur, get out. After your family and you are safely outside, call 911. 

Some additional tips from the NFPA website:

1. If you have a candle lit, never leave a child alone in the room with it.

2. Make sure children cannot reach knives.

3. Keep electric cords (such as those found on coffee makers, plate warmers and mixers) from dangling off the counter where a child could reach them.

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If a fire does break out in your home, a home security system that includes smoke detectors can mean the difference between life and death. Seconds matter when you find yourself in a home fire. Properly working smoke detectors can warn you of the fire long before you may be aware that it has begun.

If a fire breaks out in your home or office, there is no time to research the best method of putting it out. You need to be prepared before the emergency happens.

If you use the wrong method to put out certain types of fires, it can be deadly. For example, putting water on a grease fire can cause an explosion!

Here are some common fires and how to safely extinguish them:

1. Grease fires. As mentioned above, never put water on a grease fire. Also, never move a pan that is on fire. Instead, place a cookie sheet or lid on top of the fire and turn the burner off. Allow the fire to go out on its own. Do not lift the lid until you are completely sure that the fire has gone out; the fresh air may cause the fire to flame up again.

2. Chimney fires. To put out a chimney fire, follow these steps:

a. Close off all oxygen vents to the fire. This will eliminate the fuel needed for the fire to continue burning.

b. Dump sand onto the fire in the grate, if needed. It is a good idea to keep a container of sand handy at all times, for this reason.

3. Electrical fires. Old or frayed wires, overloaded power strips or faulty equipment can cause an electrical fire. A good method for putting out an electrical fire is to use a fire extinguisher. Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times – make sure you know where it is and that it is in good working order. It is also important to know how to use one; waiting until a fire is underway is not a good time to figure it out!

To prevent electrical fires, keep an eye on your wires and power outlets to make sure they are in good working condition and are not overloaded.

At Best Security Products, we specialize in fire systems for business and home.

Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Did you know there was one home structure fire reported every 86 seconds in 2015?¹ That is one fire about every minute.

October is fire prevention month, and this is a good time to take a few minutes to think seriously about your own home fire safety.

Your smoke alarm really is your first line of defense against home fires. But if you are not taking care of your smoke alarm, it cannot protect you.

Here are some reasons for giving your smoke alarm the TLC it needs to protect you and your family.

1. Smoke alarms get old! The official theme for the NFPA’s fire prevention week this year is: “Don’t Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years”² This is to remind people that smoke detectors do not last forever. They need to be replaced every 10 years. If the smoke detectors in your home are older than 10 years, it is time to replace them.

2. Even new alarms need to be checked. Even if you have a new smoke alarm installed, you still need to check it monthly to make sure it is functioning. Pressing the test button will let you know if it is working correctly and can alert you in the event of a fire.

3. Smoke is as dangerous as fire. Your house can fill up with smoke from a low flaming, smoldering fire. When this happens, your home can become very dark and it will be difficult to breathe. In this case, it is the smoke, not the actual flames that presents a danger. A smoke alarm can alert you to the danger in time to get out safely. But only if it works.

4. Help from first responders. If your smoke alarm is working properly and is also part of a monitored system, you will have help if a fire does occur in your home. When your monitoring service gets the alert that your system has been triggered, they will take steps to alert first responders. But again - this only happens if your smoke alarm is working properly.

Final tips: Keep fresh batteries in your alarm, vacuum it monthly and never paint it.

At Best Security Products, we specialize in fire systems for business and home.

Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

^{1 http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fires-in-the-us
2 http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/news-and-media/press-room/news-releases/2016/nfpa-announces-2016-fpw-theme}