Safety Items You SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR HOME
- Rob's Review
- December 17, 2019
- No Comments
- Last Update- 11/29/2019
A lot of the Items below may sound dumb, or you don't think you need them. Play it safe and spend the money to keep you and your family/friends safe.
#1 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
About Smoke Alarms
- Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in the living room (or den or family room) or near the stairway to the upper level, or in both locations.
- Smoke alarms installed in the basement should be installed on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs leading to the next level.
- Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking.
- Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Wall-mounted alarms should be installed not more than 12 inches away from the ceiling (to the top of the alarm).
- CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes, or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the house. When one sounds, they all sound.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel declares that it is safe to re-enter the home.
If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
Plain and Simple Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors SAVE LIVES
Remember- Replace your Smoke and CO detectors EVERY 10 YEARS
Remember- Replace your Smoke and CO detectors batteries one or two times a year
Remember- Test your Smoke and CO detectors MONTHLY
Don’t be a fool and get Yourself, Kids, Family, Friends, and Animals Killed by not checking on the items keeping you safe from Fire and CO. Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, the selfie, and the TV will still be there after you check the detectors.
#2 Fire Extinguishers
Great places for one Kitchen, Garage, Basement, and Laundry Room. Just having ONE in the house can make all the difference in life or death.
- Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing; everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called, and the room is not filled with smoke.
- To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
- For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
- Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
- Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out.
Understanding fire extinguisher classes
Class A extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper
Class B extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, and oil
Class C extinguishers are suitable for use only on electrically energized fires
Class D extinguishers are designed for use on flammable metals
Multipurpose extinguishers can be used on different types of fires and will be labeled with more than one class
For More Information NFPA National Fire Protection Association Web Site
#3 First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits someplace secure to get to and out of the reach of young children. Make sure children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits know where they're stored.
#4 Disaster Kit/Storm Kit/Bad Weather Kit
You never know what might happen, and then you are out of luck when something does happen.
#5 Escape Ladders for Basement or 2nd Floors
If you have a basement, each window well, you should have an escape ladder. I'm 6ft, and let me tell you I can't pull my self up and out of one.
If you have a 2nd floor, each room that has a window outside should have one. I don't think anyone wants to break bones jumping out a window to get away from a fire.
Don't be a fool and say I don't need one or two. Be safe and get some for that just in case moment.
#6 Emergency Lighting
This is nice to have an item. I have two in my basement and one upstairs on a ledge overlooking my stairs. Basements get dark when you have no lights, and stairs can be just as dark. It's not a bad idea to have a few.
#7 Night Lights
I love the outlet night lights, and I have a few in my basement, one on my stairs, and a few on my main floor. They work great, so you don't have to turn on any lights as you walk through the house at night. Also, it makes the house look like its worth more.
If you can't change a whole outlet out to be a nightlight, the plugin ones work just as good.
#8 True Dead Bolt Locks on Outside Doors
Make sure you have a deadbolt on your external doors. I have seen many houses that just have a doorknob and no deadbolt, and that's not a smart thing. People can kick your door in or pry your door open. A deadbolt goes into the door frame and the wood behind it, so its harder to pick or pry open.
#9 Portable Power
Keeping a charged power bank or power pack will help you recharge a lot of different items. Depending on what you have, they can be used for many different things. You never know how long the power will be out, and you want to keep your children entertained; you need one.
#10 Heater
When the power goes out, you won't have any heat other then your stove if its gas. Your home can go from being nice and warm to nice and cold very quickly. Having a little heater can keep a small area nice and warm until the power is restored. It's also a good idea to have extra blankets around the home.
If you have children in the home, it is a good idea to have something that will keep them nice and warm.
#11 Flashlights
Everyone should have flashlights around the home. I have one in each room and a few extras. You never know when you might need one, and they are cheap. You might have to look at something outside or for a lost animal. If the power goes out you need to see, I know where everything is at in my home, but I still run into things if I cant see. If you have children, they can't see as well, and they will make a good play toy for them.
#12 Battery Powered Sump Pump
If you're like everyone else, I know you keep all the unwanted or priceless keepsakes in your basement. I have learned from personal experience that when the power goes out, you are in deep trouble if you don't have a battery backup sump pump.
If you have a finished basement, you'll be ripping out drywall, carpet, molding, and other things. Sometimes insurance will cover the losses IF you have the right policy. If not, you'll be spending $1,000's of dollars on replacing items. Also, all the priceless keepsakes will be lost or damaged, and most of the cant ever be replaced.
It's a good idea NOT to use boxes but get plastic tubs/totes to store everything in. It will help you stack everything nicer and keep items safe.
Even if you have a battery backup sump pump, it only lasts so long to keeping items off the grown and in plastic tub/totes will help minimize the losses.
Don't forget to buy the battery and the acid for them. usually, the kits don't come with them
#13 Water Sensors
Save your self some headaches and get water sensors. The old fashion ones still work GREAT, and the new Smart ones work well too if you have battery backup devices hooked you your modem, router, switches, and access point if you have them.
I would stick with the old fashion ones for your primary detection source and put a few smart ones so you can get your alerts when your away.
I have them by each sink, sump pump, water heater, and each corner of the basement. It's safer to spend the money than coming home to a wet house or basement.
#14 Motion Sensor Lights
LED motion sensor lights are an excellent deterrent against burglars because it will be much harder to break into homes and remain unnoticed in a house that is appropriately lit. LED motion sensor lights are an effective way to increase your home security without spending a fortune on sophisticated alarms and lighting systems.
#15 Rubber Suction Bath Mats/Slip-Resistant Throw Rugs
Don't slip in the shower or bathtub. Having the proper mats with save you in medical bills.
#16 Grab Bars
Grab bars are great for the bathtubs, toilets, and showers. When your sick or having older family over, they will love you more for making it easy for them. They are simple and cheat to install for the just in case moments.
#17 Gun Safe
Don't be dumb and leave loaded or unloaded guns out that people shouldn't have access too. Make sure they are locked up and out of reach of children or others that don't know how to use them or might use them for bad things. It's safer to spend the money then to be sorry later on.
#18 Childproofing
If you have little ones, do some childproofing. My parents did it, I've done it, and it saves some headaches. Do the door straps and cabinet locks.
#19 Non-Toxic House Plants
If you have children or animals, don't have toxic house plants. They could eat them and get sick or even die. I know they look a lot nicer then non-toxic ones, but make sure to think about it a little bit before you buy them.
#20 House Safe
Keep your valuables or important papers safe from theft, fire, or water.
#21 Whole House Generator
If you can afford a whole house generator, you can have a lot fewer issues when you have a power outage or a disaster hit. All your items in your house will work, and you don't have to be concerned with pump pups or other things. This is a considerable expanse but will be worth it when you need it.
#22 Burglar Alarm
Keep your house safe and secure. Have windows, doors, glass break, and water alarms to alert you to issues or unwanted entry of your home. Alarm systems have changed over the last few years. They are wireless, and a lot of other providers have come to the market to alow pricing and equipment to become cheaper. Also, you can get a discount on your home insurance.
#23 Batteries
Keep a separate stockpile of batteries you need for flashlights and other products for when you need them for a power outage or other emergency.
#24 Other Door or Window Locks
Home safety items for sliding doors and windows. Don't trust the locks that come on sliding doors; add another layer of protection to keep everyone safe.
#25 Battery Backup (UPS)
Battery backup devices for your modem, router, access point, and other devices will allow you to have the internet if the power goes out. You can add the devices to almost anything, but depending on what it is, it might not run for a long time.
They are not recommended for fridges or freezers.
#26 Generator
If battery backups or whole-home generators won't work for you, get a small portable generator to power things that you need. I would use them for the fridge, freezers, TVs, and other items. You cant power a whole home with a portable generator, but you can run a lot of things from it.
#27 Security Cameras
Cameras are GREAT security and safety features for any home or business. Best places to start with cameras. Front Door, Doorbell, Driveway, and any other external doors. If you have the funds, you add them to the side yard and back yard. They are a great way to see who and what is going on outside our home, and when your not home, see what's going on.
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