Did you know that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 500,000 pets are affected by home fires each year? Here’s how to keep your pet safe.
Home fires are a real issue pet owners need to consider and address. National Pet Fire Safety Day is coming up on July 15th, and it’s a good opportunity to be informed of the precautionary measures you can take to protect your pets from dangerous home fires.
Below are a few tips from the safety experts at ADT that can help keep homes safe and protect pets from fire and other emergencies:
1. Don’t leave open flames unattended
Pets are curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even fires in your fireplace. In fact, the NFPA reports that 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by pets. It is important to ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and to make sure fires are thoroughly extinguished. You should also pet proof your home by identifying risks such as stove knobs, loose wires and other potential hazards.
2. Enlist safety and security professionals
Since your pets are not able to let you know when something is amiss, consider a high-tech home security system like ADT Pulse that can send automated alerts to your smartphone if its in-home sensors detect danger. Plus, you can rest assured knowing that ADT is monitoring your home 24/7 for smoke, fire and carbon monoxide, and can dispatch officials in the case of an emergency.
3. Keep pets near entrances
When leaving pets home alone, it is important to keep them in an area near entrances where firefighters can easily find them. Similarly, young pets like puppies and kittens should be left comfortably in a crate to avoid the potential risks of chewing wires or other potential fire hazards while you are away.
4. Practice family escape routes
All families should practice how they will escape the home in the case of a fire under different situations. While running drills, be sure to discuss who is responsible for evacuating pets from the home. Remember, the safety of you and your family comes first and practice will help you think faster to get everyone out including your pets.
5. Inform emergency officials
Pet owners should post a notification near each of the entrances of the home that detail the number of animals located inside. Additionally, when speaking with officials and security experts over the phone, be sure to tell them if pets are within the home so they can notify the fire crew.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Animal Wellness is North America's top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
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