Your home is your safe place. But how safe is it really? Many people don’t take the time to think about fire prevention until it’s too late. And yet fire prevention doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming.

There are a handful of fire prevention tips that can make your home a safer place and reduce the chances of putting your family at risk. Let’s take look at a few of the most important things you should know before disaster strikes.

Important Fire Prevention Tips Everyone Should Know

Do you practice good fire prevention? Many homeowners don’t know what to do in an emergency. Here are some common sense fire prevention tips everyone should know and practice.

Create a Fire Escape Plan

The best thing you can do for your family is to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire. Create an escape plan and practice it. Everyone needs to know the best ways to exit the home from any room.

This is especially true of young children. Teach them took get low when there is smoke because smoke is toxic.

Make Sure Your Smoke Alarms Work

Smoke alarms are only effective if they work. Take the time at least once a month to make sure each alarm in your house works properly. We recommend installing smoke alarms that feature a 10-year battery.

Leave Your Home Immediately

Make sure your family understands that in case of a fire, every single person needs to leave the house immediately. Don’t waste value time trying to grab cherished possessions. Once everyone is safely outside, call 911.

Properly Store Flammable Materials

The best way to prevent fires in your home is to be proactive. Be aware of household items that are flammable. Keep these items aware from space heaters and out of reach of small children. And make sure space heaters are turned off when you leave the room.

If you have any gasoline-powered devices, always store gasoline containers in locked locations where children cannot access them.

Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets

Believe it or not, one of the biggest fire hazards in your home is an overloaded electrical outlet. Plugging multiple appliances into a single outlet is a bad idea. And use a power strip for multiple plugs only when absolutely necessary.

Never Leave Candles Burning

Candles certainly make a home smell nice, and can add to the atmosphere of a room, but never leave them unattended. Be sure to keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable, and blow them out before going to bed or when leaving a room. This simple habit can save you from a huge nightmare.

An Ounce of Prevention

This list of fire safety tips can go a long way toward keeping your family safe. Most fire prevention tips might seem obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people simply ignore them.

We suggest keeping a list of fire safety tips for kids on your refrigerator where they can be easily seen on a daily basis. Always remember that it’s the little things that make a big difference, especially when it comes to safety.

Click here to see 5 practical tips for dealing with smoke damage after a fire.