Complete Fire Safety Checklist for Australian Households

Australian homeowners are required to consider several factors to create fire-safe homes. Some of the measures for fire safety for homes include having a fire evacuation plan, fire extinguisher training, smoke alarms, and a few other safety measures. To know whether your house is fire-safe, go through the checklist below.

Kitchen:

• Ensure that you never leave cooking unattended, as it is one of the leading causes of fires in the home.
• Ensure that flames don’t get into the fat while deep frying or using a wok.
• Supervise children all the time or keep them out of the kitchen in a safe play area while cooking.
• Regularly check the gas cylinder of your barbeque before lighting. Ensure that the connections are tight and there is no leakage.
• Keep tea towels and pot holders at a safe distance from the stove.
• Keep your kitchen clean. Ensure that the grills, fans and cooking surfaces are free from grease and residue.

Home Appliances:

• Turn off the heaters before going to bed or going out of the home.
• Maintain a minimum of 1-metre distance between the heater and clothing, curtains, or toys.
• Avoid overloading power boards.
• Don’t use faulty appliances and replace them right away.

Fire Extinguisher and Fire Blankets:

• A 1 kg chemical fire extinguisher is sufficient for handling fire emergencies in small households.
• Keep the fire extinguisher at the entry/exit of the kitchen, and anywhere a fire is likely to happen.
• Use a fire extinguisher plastic cabinet or bracket to keep the home fire extinguisher well-maintained and safe.
• Use fire blankets to smother fires caused by cooking fat and to wrap around people if their clothes catch alight.
• Don’t throw the blanket over a burning pot. Carefully place it over the pot and fire.
• Turn off the heat source and wait for firefighters to arrive.

Smoke Alarms Maintenance:

• Change the batteries of your smoke alarms yearly.
• Test smoke alarms every month.
• Ensure that you have installed smoke alarms outside every sleeping area in your home.
• Replace smoke alarms every ten years.

Living Rooms:

• If your house has chimneys and flues, yearly cleaning is essential for fire safety.
• Use a fire screen in front of an open fire.
• Make sure there is always a safe distance between anything flammable and candles, incense, and oil.
• Keep matchboxes and lighters out of children’s reach.

Bedrooms:

• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol in bed.
• Turn off the electric blankets after 30 minutes of use.
• Avoid putting weight (animals, people, or objects) on the bed when an electric blanket is switched on.

Clothes and Laundry:

• Remember to clean the lint filter of your clothes dryer after every load.
• Never stop your dryer before it completes the cool-down cycle.

Summary:

It is vital to create a fire escape plan for your home and practise it with your family. Your plan should include two ways to escape each room of the house. Have a safe meeting place outside the house and ensure everyone knows about it. In case of fire, keep the children close and ensure they don’t run back into the house. Dial 000 and ask for help.

FSP Oz Products is a leading manufacturer and supplier of superior-quality industrial-grade fire safety products. Our products are reliable and help you handle fire emergencies effectively.

To become a reseller/distributor of FSP fire safety products, please call 1300 847 901 or email us at sales@fspozproducts.com.au.