How to Prioritize Safety in Your Home

You probably spend a lot of time stressing about your family’s safety as they travel to school and work, but the one place where you shouldn’t have to worry about them is your house. By taking a few simple steps, you can make your house as safe as possible from the following disasters.

Floods

Flooding occurs naturally outside of your house because of hurricanes or tropical storms if you live on low-lying land. While you cannot completely prevent it, purchase sandbags and store your belongings in water-proof containers if your area is prone to flooding. Never go outside during a flood unless your life is in danger inside the house.

Flooding also happens inside your house because of issues with your plumbing. This form does not usually threaten your life, but it does frequently ruin your floors, furniture and belongings. You can prevent extensive damage to your home by installing an automatic water shut off service and having your pipes regularly inspected.

Fires

Thanks to modern alarm systems and improved lighting and heating sources, house fires are nowhere near as common as they used to be. To further decrease your risk of a fire, never leave burners on or let open flames such as those in candles burn unattended. Replace old lightbulbs with new fluorescent ones, which do not get as hot as traditional bulbs. Discuss basic fire safety such as the stop, drop and roll method with your children, and establish a fire escape route for every room in your house.

Because you care about your family, you want them to be safe. Taking these steps increases your ability to respond efficiently to fires, floods and other disasters. While you may think that these measures waste time, it’s never a bad idea to practice emergency preparedness, and you’ll be glad you did if a disaster ever hits.