Fires are all over the news and, though these situations are extremely scary, they can be prevented.
Fires are most common when cooking, using traditional candles or space heaters, faulty electrical wiring and smoking.
Individuals within the Institute for Health Professions community have been impacted physically, emotionally, mentally due to this type of disaster. Ms. Honey Arnold says she was, “A little bit traumatized, just because I realized I had made a mistake and I was living in someone else’s apartment. So I had a lot of mixed emotions about how was I going to explain.”
Fires also have damaging effects on property. Mr. Harrison Gonzaga states, “The house stayed up after the fire, but it needed to be demolished; the entire house was destroyed.”
There are preventative measures households can take to keep their family and property safe from house fires. Worth Insurance, located in Palm Beach, Florida gives several suggestions:
- Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your house.
- Never leave candles unattended or place too close to flammable materials like drapes, bedding, paper products.
- Have your electrical system inspected.
- Store flammable liquids away from heat.
- Clean dryer vents regularly to remove lint build up which can increase the risk of fire due to overheated machines.
- Don’t leave cooking unattended on the stove.
Finally, in the event that a fire can’t be avoided, make sure you have a fire escape plan for you and your family to get out your house quickly and safely.
