(NC) In the busyness of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the importance of practising home fire safety. Consider making the following tips routine to help ensure your home and family are prepared in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) emergency.

Test and maintain alarms. Maintaining your smoke and CO alarms is an important part of helping keep your home and family safe. However, of the Canadian residents who experienced a residential fire from 2015 to 2021, just one in three had a working smoke alarm in their home, according to Statistics Canada. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that alarms be installed on every level of your home, including the basement, and in every bedroom. Remember to test your alarms regularly, and if you’re using battery-powered models, change the batteries at least every six months.

Upgrade to long-term alarms. To make maintaining your smoke and CO alarms easier, you can use combination 10-year sealed-battery devices, such as the First Alert 10-year battery smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. These two-in-one alarms eliminate late-night battery chirps as well as the need for battery replacements. They are easy to install and come equipped with a mounting bracket and installation kit.

Equip yourself with fire extinguishers. According to the NFPA, fire extinguishers should not only be placed on every level of your home, but also in easily accessible locations, such as under the kitchen sink. In the event of a fire emergency, assess the situation before reaching for your fire extinguisher. If the fire is small enough for you to handle, use the PASS technique to put the fire out: Pull the pin, Aim low, Squeeze the handle and Sweep from side to side. If the fire is too big or begins to spread, evacuate your home immediately and call 911.

Have a plan in place. Create and practise an emergency escape plan with every member of your household to help ensure everyone is prepared in the event of a fire. Identify two exits from each room, choose a designated meeting spot a safe distance away from your home, and practise at least twice a year so your safety plan remains top-of-mind.

Find more home safety tips at firstalert.ca.