November in Western North Carolina brings cool days and colder nights! It’s the perfect month for fire pit parties, s’mores bonfires, and lighting a fire in the fireplace to enjoy that warm, cozy glow. But having fires on your property means you’ll need to take extra precaution to ensure they’re well managed and are completely extinguished. If the unthinkable happens and your home catches fire, be sure you’re protecting your family by having a sound fire evacuation plan in place.

Install smoke alarms in your home, and be sure your kids know what they sound like. It might seem obvious that everyone knows what a smoke alarm sounds like, but small children may not. Show your kids how a smoke alarm works, including letting them hear its sound, and then make sure they know what to do as soon as they hear it.

Have a plan of escape, and practice it. Be sure that everyone in your family knows at least two ways to escape from every room in your home when they hear a smoke alarm, see smoke or fire, or hear someone yell “Fire!” Then practice the escape twice a year — you could coordinate the practice with changing the batteries for your detectors at the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time.

Designate an outside meeting spot, and make sure everyone knows whom to contact if they are separated from the rest of the family. Choose a spot outside that’s a good distance away from your home, such as your mailbox or a neighbor’s house. Be sure your meeting spot is in front of your home so emergency responders can see you when they arrive. Have everyone agree not to go back into the house once they’re out. And make sure your kids know the number of a friend or family member who they can call in case they get separated from the rest of the family.

Teach your kids what to do if they are unable to leave a room. Tell them to close all doors between themselves and the fire, and put a towel or bed sheet under all doors to prevent smoke from coming in. They should then call the fire department if they can to let them know where they are in the home. Finally, they should move to a window.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 80 percent of fire deaths happen in residences, and the majority of fatal fires happen at night. Every second matters when a fire breaks out.

Southern Alarm & Security is here to help! We offer a range of smoke detectors and can also install security systems that will alert your family right away if a fire breaks out. Even if your security system isn’t armed, it will still notify our local monitoring station, who is familiar with our area and will dispatch help to your home right away. Contact us to learn more!