Fire Safety While You Sleep | SERVPRO® of Rock County

1/9/2024 (Permalink)

House roof on fire

The day is done and the house is quiet and cozy—it’s finally time to head to bed. There isn’t anything quite as wonderful as crawling under the covers for the night, but did you know that the majority of deaths from fires happen overnight? 

House fires will certainly never happen at a convenient moment, which is why always being prepared is crucial for protecting yourself and your family. With the proper safety equipment in place and a well-rehearsed 

emergency plan, you can still lay your head down and rest peacefully every night. 

The Right Equipment in the Right Places

We all know how important working smoke alarms are in our home, but do you have enough of them? There should be a smoke alarm in or right outside of every sleeping area and at least one of each level of your home. 

That means if you have converted the garage into an extra room, or any other unconventional space into a bedroom, it’s time to double-check your equipment to make sure they are as safe as possible. 

Along with making sure you have working smoke detectors near your sleeping spaces, closing your door at night can make your bedroom much safer if a fire breaks out overnight. A closed door can keep the room temperature considerably lower during a house fire, allowing for anyone inside the room more time to safely exit or wait for help if there is no way out. 

Once you know that you have enough smoke detectors and you get yourself in the habit of closing your door every night, create an evening routine that clears exit routes throughout your house. 

Remove any clutter in hallways or near doors, and make sure space heaters, stove burners and any other item that warms up are turned off. Unplug as many electronics and appliances as you can as well in order to keep your home safe all night long. 

Create and Practice a Plan

Even if you have smoke detectors, clear routes and closed doors—if you don’t know how to respond to a fire, all of those safety features might not help when a disaster strikes. Spend some time creating an emergency plan with your entire family. Practice this regularly, including at night, in order to ensure everyone in your home can quickly and safely get out. 

Draw a basic floor plan of your home, and plot the fastest route out of each room. Choose a designated meeting spot outside of your home, and make sure everyone can safely get there even in the dark. 

Turn your smoke detectors on while the entire family is at home so that everyone knows what they sound like. Make sure to assign pets and younger children a helper. Whoever sleeps closest to them is ideal to ensure they can quickly help each other out. 

Run a fire drill overnight at least once a year. Be sure to let your neighbors know your plans, too. You want them to know that there isn’t a true emergency when you run your drills, but you also should make sure they know where your meeting spot is. That way if something does happen they can make sure everyone was able to safely get out and help with children. 

You deserve a good night’s sleep. Spend some time protecting your home from fires, even overnight. When you know your home is safe, it is that much easier to fall fast asleep. 

Have you experienced a fire in your home, or want other ways to keep your family safe? Contact us for fast restoration and all the best help.