Home Safety

Simple routines that make a big difference—alarms, egress, fire basics, and documenting your home.

These aren’t complicated. Most take 30 minutes or less. But they can save lives and thousands of dollars.

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The Safety Basics: 60 Minutes Total

Do these first:

1. Test Smoke and CO Alarms (10 min)

• Press the test button on each alarm
• Replace batteries if chirping or if it’s been a year
• Replace the entire unit if it’s 10+ years old
• Make sure there’s at least one on each floor and outside sleeping areas

2. Check Fire Extinguisher (5 min)

• Confirm you have at least one (kitchen is priority)
• Check the pressure gauge (should be in the green)
• Know how to use it: PASS — Pull pin, Aim low, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side
• Consider one for garage and one for each floor

3. Walk Your Egress Routes (15 min)

• Can you get out of every bedroom two ways?
• Are paths clear of clutter?
• Do windows open easily?
• Does everyone know the meeting spot outside?

4. Create a Home Photo Inventory (30 min)

• Walk through each room and video contents
• Capture serial numbers on expensive items
• Include inside closets, cabinets, garage
• Store in cloud (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox)

5. Know Your Shutoffs (5 min)

• Water main (review and label)
• Electrical panel (label breakers if not already done)
• Gas shutoff (if applicable—know but don’t test unnecessarily)

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Smoke and CO Alarms

Where They Should Be

• Every floor including basement and attic (if occupied)
• Outside each bedroom in hallways
• Inside each bedroom (recommended, especially for kids)
• Near kitchen but not directly in it (false alarms from cooking)
• Near attached garage (CO detection)

Maintenance Routine

• Monthly: Test all alarms (press test button)
• Twice yearly: Replace batteries (spring/fall time change is a good reminder)
• Every 10 years: Replace entire unit (check manufacture date on back)

Types of Alarms

• Ionization: Better at detecting fast, flaming fires
• Photoelectric: Better at detecting slow, smoldering fires
• Combination: Detects both types
• Interconnected: When one sounds, they all sound (highly recommended)

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Fire Extinguisher Basics

Types for Homes

Type	Best For	Not For
ABC (multi-purpose)	Most home fires	Best all-around choice
K (kitchen)	Grease/cooking fires	Not for other fires
BC	Electrical, flammable liquids	Not for paper/wood

Recommendation: One ABC extinguisher per floor, plus a K extinguisher in or near the kitchen.

Placement

• Kitchen (within reach but not directly above stove)
• Garage (near exit)
• Each floor (hallway or near bedrooms)
• Near fire-prone areas (workshop, fireplace)

The PASS Technique

1. Pull the pin
2. Aim at the base of the fire
3. Squeeze the handle
4. Sweep side to side

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Emergency Egress Plan

Room-by-Room Checklist

For each room, especially bedrooms:

1. ☐ Primary exit — Usually the door. Is the path clear?
2. ☐ Secondary exit — Usually a window. Does it open easily?
3. ☐ Window considerations:
   • Can children open it?
   • Is there a screen that can be removed quickly?
   • For second-floor rooms: is there a ladder or safe drop?
4. ☐ Nighttime visibility — Can you navigate in the dark?

Family Meeting Spot

Pick a spot outside, away from the house:

• Mailbox
• Specific tree
• Neighbor’s driveway

Everyone goes there. No one goes back inside.

Practice

• Walk through escape routes twice a year
• Practice in the dark
• Time yourselves (make it a game for kids)

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Home Photo Inventory

The 30-Minute Method

1. Start with a slow video walk-through of each room
2. Narrate as you go — “Living room, TV is Samsung 65-inch, purchased 2024”
3. Open drawers and closets — Jewelry, electronics, tools
4. Capture serial numbers on laptops, TVs, appliances
5. Include garage, basement, attic — Tools, seasonal items, storage
6. Take photos of receipts for big purchases

Where to Store It

• Cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox)
• Email to yourself
• Give a copy to a trusted friend or family member
• Not just on your phone — if your house burns, your phone might too

What to Include in Your Home Binder

• Insurance policy numbers and contact info
• Shutoff locations (water, gas, electric)
• Appliance model/serial numbers
• Contractor contacts (plumber, electrician, HVAC)
• Warranty information

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Common Issues

Smoke Alarm Chirping

• Single chirp every 30-60 seconds — Low battery, replace it
• Continuous chirping — Could be end of life, dust buildup, or malfunction
• False alarms from cooking — Move alarm further from kitchen, or get a photoelectric type

CO Alarm Going Off

• Don’t ignore it. CO is invisible and deadly.
• Get everyone outside immediately
• Call 911
• Don’t re-enter until cleared by fire department

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Make It a Routine

Monthly:

• Test all smoke and CO alarms
• Check that fire extinguisher gauge is green

Twice Yearly (spring/fall):

• Replace alarm batteries
• Walk escape routes
• Check that windows open easily

Annually:

• Update photo inventory
• Review and update home binder
• Check fire extinguisher expiration

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Families + Pets

• Assign responsibilities — Who grabs the pet carrier? Who helps younger kids?
• Practice with kids — Make it routine, not scary
• Window considerations — Can kids operate emergency exits?
• Pet escape plan — Where do carriers live? Who’s responsible for each pet?

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Related

• Family + Pet Readiness — Go-bags and evacuation
• Power Outages — Emergency lighting
• Pets & Kids at Home — Childproofing and pet safety
• ← Back to Resilience