Pet Fire Safety Tips That Could Paws-Sibly Save Lives

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

Pet Fire Safety Tips

We all adore our pets, and the last thing we want to think about is one of them being injured in a fire. Making pets a part of your family entails more than just providing them with a warm bed and plenty of tasty food. It also entails doing all possible to make your home fire-safe for your pet. Making sure your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order is essential for protecting your family ad your pets. If you must escape in the event of a disaster, the most critical thing you can do to safeguard your pets is to evacuate them as well. Here are a few things to consider to help avoid fires and increase the odds of firefighters rescuing your pets in the event of a fire.

Put pets near entrances when away from home.

When you’re not at home, keep your pets near the front door. Keep leashes and collars on your pets in case firefighters need to rescue them. Keep pets in places or rooms near entrances where firefighters may easily find them, especially if visibility is poor due to smoke.

Secure small and young pets.

When you’re not at home, keep your pups contained, preferably in crates or behind baby gates in secure settings, away from potential fire-starting materials.

Use Monitored Smoke Detectors.

Install smoke detectors linked to emergency response services so that, even if your pets are home alone, help can be signaled and dispatched in the event of a fire.

Be aware of where your pets are most likely to hide.

Knowing where they’re more likely to hide or sleep can help you locate your pet quickly and safely in the event of an emergency. Ensure you know where they might hide inside the house, such as beneath a couch or in a specific closet.

Keep tags and microchips up to date.

Collars, for example, are very beneficial in extreme situations. If all you can do to keep safe in an emergency is open the door and let your pet run out to safety, a tag on your collar is better than nothing. It’s also good to have your pet microchipped and make sure the chip and tag are updated with current contact information.

Prepare an emergency kit.

If you need to leave right away, an emergency kit can guarantee you have everything you need. Food, amenities such as plastic bags or kitty litter, medical paperwork, and comfort items such as blankets or toys are all included in a basic pet safety kit. You’ll need a leash or a pet carrier as well. Make sure everyone in your household knows where the kit is by placing it near the main exit.

Put up a window decal with a pet alert.

If you are not at home when a fire starts, emergency personnel may not be aware that pets in the building need to be saved. A pet alert window decal, which is a card inside a clear sticky window that you can place on your door, can address this problem. In addition, you can write down how many pets you have on the card so that emergency services are aware of them in the event of a fire at your home.  

Make a pet fire safety evacuation plan.

All pet parents should have an emergency plan in place and practice escape routes with their dogs. Include all family members in this plan and understand what steps to take and where to go. Preparing for pet safety ahead of time can significantly reduce your risk.

In an emergency, the most important thing is that everyone in your family, including your pets, is safe. So, make every effort and plan ahead of time to be confident that you have all your bases covered. SERVPRO of Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda specializes in fire damage restoration and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their professionals are qualified and experienced in restoring your home or property to its former glory. Contact the experts at SERVPRO after a disaster even, and we’ll be here to help.