Many kids just don't know what to do in case of a fire. Whether your home has life-saving fire sprinklers or not, it's important to stress fire safety at home.

Children have regular fire drills at school. It would be a great idea to do a drill or two at home, so that the young ones know instinctively what to do in case fire breaks out.

Here's a helpful selection from a fire safety article on KidsHealth.org:

"Teach Children the Facts about Fire

Unfortunately, many kids will try to hide from a fire, often in a closet, under a bed, or in a corner. But if taught basic fire facts, they'd be better able to protect themselves. Teach your child that fires spread quickly, that most fire-related deaths are not from burns but from smoke inhalation, and that dangerous fumes can overcome a person in just a few minutes.

Kids should learn to:

• Cover their mouths and noses with a moist towel or an article of clothing to keep out dangerous fumes while evacuating
• Crawl under the smoke to safety, staying as low to the ground as possible (smoke always rises)
• Touch any door (not the doorknob) to see if it is hot, and if it is, not to open it — find another exit
• Locate the nearest stairway marked "Fire Exit" if they live in an apartment building, or a fire escape if the stairway isn't accessible — kids should know to always avoid elevators during a fire
• Never stop to take personal belongings or pets or to make a phone call (even to 911) while evacuating
• Never go back into a burning building once safely outside
• Stop, drop, and roll to extinguish flames if an article of clothing catches on fire

Kids should also always be dressed for bed in flame-retardant sleepwear."

If you're looking for the ultimate in home protection to keep your family safe, consider adding fire sprinklers to your new home construction project or retrofitting your current home.

To find a sprinkler installation company, post your project on ConstructionDeal.com - we'll send it out to sprinkler installers in your area to bid on the job. And you're under no obligation to hire any of them. It's a free service for homeowners.

Labels: Fire Sprinkler Education

If you have sprinklers installed in your home, or you're planning to have them installed, here are some tips on what you should and should not do with the sprinklers in place.

Always Make Sure You:

1. Test your system every month. If you have a home security system in place, as well, make sure you notify the company that you are testing to avoid an unnecessary alarm for your local fire department. Open the test valve and listen for an alarm bell. Once the alarm sounds, turn off the valve. If alarm bell does not sound, contact a qualified fire sprinkler contractor.

2. Know the location of the System Shutoff Valve. Be sure all other members of of the household know the location as well.

3. Keep the System Control Valve is open at all times.

4. Upgrade your system if you extend, enlarge or remodel your house. Contact a licensed fire sprinkler contractor. Make sure the contractor submits plans to the fire department or Fire Marshall to secure the correct permit.

5. Contact the fire department when any activation occurs, even if the fire has apparently been extinguished.

Make sure you Do NOT:

1 Paint the sprinklers.

2. Damage the sprinklers.

3. Hang anything from the sprinklers.

4. Obstruct the sprinklers.

5. Cover the sprinklers.

6. Remove or attempt to Repair the sprinklers.

7. Disconnect or shut off Power to the system

If you experience a home fire, be calm and leave your house immediately. Call the fire department from a neighbor's house.

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Labels: Fire Sprinkler Education, Fire Sprinkler Installation