If a disaster were to strike, are the most vulnerable members of your household safe? Everyone thinks of the precautions they should take to keep their children safe in a fire, but have you considered what you can do to keep your pets safe?
Fire safety for your pets is worth considering and there are some very simple precautionary steps you can take. The first thing to consider is, if a fire were to happen when you weren’t home, would your pet have a way to exit the home? A pet door can give them the means they need to escape.
According to The Daily Times article, “Taking Precautions Can Help Keep Pets Safe From House Fires” by Mike Gibson
“Sometimes, even when owners are present, an animal’s instincts may run counter to the best practices of fire safety. “There’s usually two things (pets) will do in a fire,” says Blount County Fire Captain Jerry Phillips. “They’ll run and hide, or they’ll try to get out. We’ve been inside homes where we opened doors, and the animals about ran over us, trying to get out of the home. And then sometimes we find them hidden behind beds or couches. A lot of times, that’s when the smoke gets them.”
If your pet is a hider, keeping your pet’s collar on and a leash in a visible, obvious place may help fire fighters save their lives in a fire.
You can also get a pet alert sticker to post outside your front door that lets emergency workers know exactly how many pets you have. That way, if you aren’t home, the firefighters still know how many pets to search for.
Another important aspect of fire safety is to keep your animals away from fire hazards. Pets are actually responsible for starting many fires each year. Open flames like candles that can be knocked over, or wires that can be chewed through can present fire dangers.
