No one likes to think about it, but an emergency can happen at any time. Being prepared is the best way to protect you and your family in a wide range of situations. To that end, we have compiled a list of the “must-have” safety items that should be stored in every home.
A few hours of preparation will go a long way to giving you the upper hand should an emergency occur.
- Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Smoke detectors are installed in all new homes, and carbon monoxide detectors are increasingly common. These are staples of safety for good reason – of all deaths in house fires, over 2/3 were in homes without working smoke detectors. Although smoke is deadly, carbon monoxide is odorless and cannot be detected, making a CO detector a true lifesaver.
- Fire Extinguishers: A fire can start in many ways, and a small flame only needs a moment to turn into a blaze. Having fire extinguishers readily available can quickly diffuse a bad situation. Class A fire extinguishers are appropriate for common materials such as wood. cloth and paper, and are a good choice to keep in your kitchen. Class B fire extinguishers are the right choice for putting out combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paints. Therefore, you may want to keep those in your garage or storage areas.
- First Aid Kits: A well-stocked first aid kit will get you through cuts, abrasions, insect bites, and sprains. The most important thing to remember is to restock the kit when items are used, as you never know what emergency may arise. Research the top 2018 first aid kits to determine which may be right for your family.
- Contact Lists: Your mom had it right – it is important to keep a list of all emergency contacts available. Although many people keep emergency numbers on their phone, this does not help if your visiting mother or your babysitter need to make an emergency call. Expand the list to not only include doctor information, but insurance policy numbers, child allergies, prescription drug names and information, emergency family contacts, and your personal contact information. You will also want to include your exact address as a visitor may not know it off the top of their head, and saving even a minute or two may be helpful in a crisis. There are many downloadable online forms to give you a template to work from.
- Access Control: We would all like to think we are safe in our own homes, but implementing physical safety measures is a modern-day must. Installing true interlocking deadbolt locks, alarm systems, outside motion sensors and video cameras is a great way to monitor the safety your home and family.
- Disaster / Hurricane Kits: When you live on Longboat Key, hurricane season is a fact of life. A traditional disaster kit doubles as a hurricane preparedness kit here in Sarasota, and should include at least 3 days worth of non-perishable food, plenty of drinking water, flashlights and batteries, a transistor radio, a solar charger for your phone, and a file with copies of your most important documents.
When you move into your new home, you make many purchases. From new furniture, to dishes and artwork, these additions are meant to make your home as comfortable as you would like it to be. But don’t forget to incorporate these basic safety items to protect your home and family as well. Then you can truly settle in and enjoy your beautiful home.
If you are looking for a new home in the Sarasota area, call the Sarasota contractors at Lindahl Construction. We are here to bring your dream home to life, from blueprints to move-in day.
What does your home in paradise look like?