National Association of Home Inventory Professionals Offers Fire Prevention Tips to Start the New Year

Hebron, CT (PRWEB) January 6, 2010

Residential fires unfortunately kill approximately 3,300 Americans each year. Most deaths can be prevented if homeowners follow some basic fire prevention tips. The National Association of Home Inventory Professionals (NAHIP) http://www.NAHIP.com suggests the following basic fire safety tips to help ensure your household is prepared and protected in the event of a fire.

Tip #1: Install Smoke Detectors
Simply put, having smoke detectors installed in your home is your single best protection against fire fatalities. Of the approximate 3,300 annual fire deaths, most happen in homes without working smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be placed on every floor of your home and in every bedroom. The detectors should be tested once a month and batteries should be replaced twice a year.

Tip #2: Develop an Escape Plan
Besides smoke detectors, the second most important thing you can do is to formulate an escape plan and practice it with your family. Plan at least two escape routes from every bedroom and purchase fire ladders for upstairs bedrooms. Ensure that every member of your household knows basic home fire safety procedures. Checking doors for heat before opening them, crawling on the floor to stay out of the smoke, and knowing the closest way out can all save lives in a major fire. Don't forget to practice your plan twice a year.

Tip #3: Install Fire Extinguishers
Keeping several fire extinguishers on hand throughout your home is critical when it comes to making sure small fires don't turn into big ones. Always keep one in the kitchen, one in the garage, and one in any workshop areas of your home, since those are where most residential fires start. In addition, check your extinguishers regularly to make sure they still work.

Tip #4: Use Common Sense
Many residential fires happen simply because homeowners are careless when it comes to common fire prevention tips. Never smoke in bed, for example. Doing so is simply a bad idea that could lead to disaster. Also, place space heaters at least 3 feet away from any flammable surface, including walls, since they are another major source of house fires. Finally, don't overload electrical outlets. Overloading a circuit with extension cords and power strips can easily lead to a fire.

Tip #5: Educate Children about Fire Dangers
A large number of fires are set every year by children under 5 years old playing with matches or lighters. Sit down and talk to your kids about the dangers of playing with fire and keep matches and lighters far from their reach.

Tip #6: Document Your Assets with a Home Inventory
Document your assets to ensure a fair and prompt insurance settlement should a loss occur. The National Association of Home Inventory Professionals can help homeowners quickly complete a comprehensive home inventory. Homeowners can easily search the online member directory available on the NAHIP website at http://www.NAHIP.com to find a qualified service provider.

Most homeowners simply don't have the time or patience to conduct a home inventory on their own which makes using a service provider a great option to get this tedious task accomplished. Individuals who want to perform an inventory on their own can use a popular and inexpensive software product such as The Complete Home Journal which greatly simplifies the task and creates the necessary documentation. Visit the Complete Home Journal product website at: http://www.thehomejournal.com for further details.

NAHIP encourages those interested in the documentation services profession to get involved. It is an exciting industry with tremendous growth potential which needs additional service professionals to meet the growing demand. The home inventory services profession offers great pay, flexible hours and the ability to work from a home office. NAHIP recommends the leading home inventory business startup kit, Home Journal Business for those interested in starting their own business either part of full time. The home inventory business startup kit includes a full set of materials to easily start a new business and includes the leading home inventory business software. Please visit the home inventory business startup kit website at: http://www.HomeJournalBusiness.com for complete details.

Home fire safety is a vital part of protecting members of your household from the devastating effects of a fire. By following a few simple fire prevention tips, you can rest easy knowing that you and your family are as prepared as possible if the event of a fire.

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