Fire Safety Month and First Alert

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is Fire Prevention Month! Help ensure your home and family are ready for the unexpected by installing smoke & CO alarms and having fire extinguishers!

Wildfires are a serious reality for my family and the entire state of California. We have almost been evacuated once this year and the smoke has been so heavy for over a month that we could not go outside for many days on end. We need to be prepared and educated on the dangers of fire and trained on how to get out safely if needed. First Alert has helped us to put together a checklist, make escape plans and properly install our smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This could literally save our lives. Afterall, October is fire prevention month. Keep reading to learn more about Fire Safety Month and First Alert.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

First Alert taught me that these life saving devices should be installed on every level and in every room! But it doesn’t stop there! They need to be tested regularly to make sure they are working properly, and the batteries need to be changed often.

I also learned the importance of where these devices are placed. The ceiling is best, but the wall is also acceptable if within 4-12” from the ceiling. It is also important to know that alarms do not last forever and should be replaced every 10 years. We’re using the First Alert Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with a 10-year sealed battery. What’s cool about these alarms is that they’re so convenient and we don’t have to worry about hearing chirps in the middle of the night or replacing the batteries for a decade.

Fire Extinguishers

There should be a fire extinguisher on every floor and in common areas, especially the kitchen! Since most fires start in the kitchen from unattended cooking, keeping a fire extinguisher nearby is extremely important! First Alert sent us a Kitchen Fire Extinguisher that is extra durable, corrosion resistant and mountable. It is also easy to check the pressure and should be checked weekly.

It is also important to know how to use a fire extinguisher, so check the instructions and become familiar with what to do in an emergency situation. The easy way to remember is with the word PASS:

P – Pull the pin
A- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
S- Squeeze the trigger
S- Sweep from side to size

Safety Checklist

First Alert sent us a checklist that will be posted for the entire family to see. The things I added to our checklist include:

Install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level and in every bedroom.
Test alarms regularly.
Change the batteries in the alarms at least every six months.
Plan and practice emergency escape plans at least twice a year.

I will do whatever it takes to protect my family! I know we don’t like to think about something as terrible as a fire hitting our home but we need to be prepared and have those discussions. Thanks to First Alert, we are on top of it and prepared to the best of our abilities. Find First Alert fire safety products at your local Lowe’s.