Living in a big city like Vancouver and its surrounding neighbourhoods can bring with it a lot of safety concerns for homeowners. Canadians might be a friendly bunch, but we’re not immune to crime and natural disasters. It’s important to keep your home and your loved ones safe. Here’s a list of items you should consider to ensure everyone you love is prepared in case of an unexpected emergency.
Emergency Numbers
For starters, keeping a list of all emergency phone numbers at the ready is important so that all members of your family can access these in case the power goes out and there’s no access to the internet. Though it is the most important, 911 is not the only emergency number you should know. Family doctors, family members, neighbours, poison prevention, as well as everyone’s cell phone numbers. Teach young children in the house about these numbers and how they can help in case of an emergency.
In Case Of Fire
In case of a fire, it’s important that everyone knows what to do. Prepare a fire evacuation plan and rehearse it with all the members of your family so that everyone, big and small, knows how to get out of any room should this happen. If you have a house with two or more floors, check all the windows can be opened from the inside easily in case of an emergency. If you have any pets, you can buy those “save my pet” stickers from your local pet shop as well to advise any emergency responders your furry friends also need rescuing. Make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are kept in the home. And if necessary, practice using them. And remember that fire extinguishers also need to be replaced after 10 years, even if they’ve never been used.
Smoke Alarms
It is a legal requirement to have a functioning smoke alarm, and in some areas it’s actually illegal to remove the batteries from your smoke detector. The batteries are in place to make sure the smoke detector functions at all times, so it’s important to check the batteries haven’t died, or need replacing.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Many don’t realize how important it is to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is both invisible and odourless. This means if you have a carbon monoxide leak in your home, you won’t know about it until it’s too late. These detectors are designed to sense and alert you if any gas is present. And just like your smoke alarms, make sure the batteries don’t need to be replaced.
Valuables
After you’ve covered all your bases to ensure your loved ones are kept safe, you can also protect your valuables and family heirlooms from theft or damage. By keeping all your important items in a fireproof box or in-ground or wall safe, you’ll ensure that no matter what happens, these items will be safe. Of course, keeping them in a safety deposit box will also protect them.
Home Maintenance
It’s important to remember that maintaining your home will also keep it and its residents (your family) safe. Regular upkeeps are needed like checking the furnace, replacing the roof, clearing out your gutters of debris after big rain storms, and so forth are all important steps in keeping a safe and healthy home environment for years to come.
