PET FIRE SAFETY: KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE WITH THESE IMPORTANT GUIDELINES!!
Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Safety Dog, Archie Brindleton
Hi guys!! 😊😊😊
Did you know!!?? Almostly ONE THOUSAND foreverhome fires are started every year by curious pets like puppies or kitties!! Yup!! I am not even joshing!! Most of them happen when a pet is left alone and most are started by accident when a pet starts to goof with:
- cooking equipment
- fireplaces or chimneys
- lighting, candles or
- space heaters
Good thing there is lots'nlots you can do to keep your foreverhome plus you furbabies safe when you leave them behind!
Most everybuddy talks 'bout having a FIRE SAFETY PLAN that everybuddy in your foreverhome can talk 'bout, memorize, plus practice, butt not many peoples include PETS!
So have a real good looksee at all these wordybits, then get your whole, entire familypack together so you can talk 'bout how YOU are going to help prevent pet-started fires, PLUS...
how to keep your furry friends safe if a fire starts in your foreverhome!! Shanksh, guys!! 😊💜
PREVENTION TIPS TO KEEP PETS FROM STARTING HOME FIRES
- New Data Says Pets Start Nearly 1,000 Fires Each Year -
New York – July 12, 2010 – An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires, however, nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets, according to a new data analysis by the National Fire Protection Association.
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and ADT Security Services have joined forces once again for the third annual National Pet Fire Safety Day (July 15) to spread awareness about how pets can start home fires but more importantly how to prevent them.
"Not many pet owners realize that their pet can actually be the cause of a devastating fire," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Simple preventative measures, such as flameless candles and stove knob covers, can mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friends."
Chris and Kay Wardlow of Oklahoma know that all too well. Their curious dog Lucy was home alone and spied a cake on the stove top. As Lucy tried to get a taste, her paw accidentally hit the stove knob and turned on the gas burner that was under the cake pan. Within minutes, the house was filled with smoke, triggering the Wardlow’s ADT monitored smoke detector. Firefighters were called to the scene, the house was saved and Lucy was rescued.
"Planning for unexpected emergencies like home fires and taking these precautions are an integral part of responsible pet ownership," Peterson said.
AKC® and ADT offer the following tips to educate pet owners on how to prevent your beloved pet from starting a fire, as well as how to keep your pets safe.
Make sure you have a FIRE SAFETY PLAN that includes your pets, guys!! Yes!!
PREVENT YOUR PET FROM STARTING FIRES
Extinguish open flames - Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
Be wary of fireplaces or wood stoves- Keep pets away from a chimney's outside vents. have a "pet-free zone" of at least 1 meter/3 feet away from the fireplace/stove. Glass doors and screens can stay dangerously hot for several hours after the fire goes out.
Remove stove knobs - Be sure to remove kitchen stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
Invest in flameless candles – These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
Some pets love to chew - Be certain pets can not reach and chew through any exposed electrical cords. Have any that are chewed to any degree checked by a professional.
Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
And, of course...
Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries every year without exception.
KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE
Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home – Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
Secure Young Pets - Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to update the number of pets listed.
IN THE EVENT OF A HOME FIRE, REMEMBER:
- If a smoke alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT!
- As you exit your home, safely escort your pet outside ONLY if you’re able to safely and swiftly do so. If you don’t see your pet as you exit your home, or if it resists your guidance to the outside, continue to get out as quickly as possible.
- If you think your pet may be trapped inside your home, don’t go back inside to rescue him/her! Tell the fire department where you think your pet might be. REMEMBER: Firefighters are equipped and trained to go inside a burning building – YOU ARE NOT! GET OUT AND STAY OUT!
- Pets can be quite resourceful in a fire situation and may be able to escape on their own. In fact, news stories have reported on tragic incidents where a resident re-enters the home to save a pet and becomes trapped inside, when the pet has already escaped. DON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE!
Shanksh for reading, guys!!
Plus it would be 'mazing if you SHARE-SHARE-SHARE this post with everybuddy you know too, 'cuz truestory for reals your Fire Department can only do so much, amirite!!?? YUP!!
It is up to us keep our foreverhomes,
plus familypacks, safe from preventable fires!!
😊💜 Stay safe, everybuddy!! 💜😊
THE END
