National Pet Fire Safety Day – July 15th
Did you know around 40,000 pets die in house fires every year? Pets start around 1,000 home fires per year. These stats are astounding and can be brought down by being proactive. Some helpful tips to promote pet fire safety in the home include:
- Never leave pets alone around an open flame. Avoid lit candles if your pet is particularly rowdy.
- Create an emergency exit plan with a safe location to take your pet after a house fire.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly and educate your family on fire safety.
- Pet proof your house. Much like baby-proofing, it is important keep hazards out of paw’s reach, like flammable items or loose electrical wires.
- Make sure your pet is micro-chipped or wearing an ID charm on their collar. This is important in case you are separated during a fire.
- Prevent pets from touching stove-top controls and be mindful of pets while in the kitchen.
- Place a fire rescue sticker in your front window with the number of pets you have inside.
- Beware of water bowls on wooden decks. When filtered through a glass water bowl, sun rays can ignite the wooden deck below. Consider using stainless steel or ceramic instead.
Pet Emergency Exit Kit
Pet emergency exit kits are a great way to promote pet fire safety. We recommend providing enough supplies to last up to 7 days. Here are some things to include in your pet emergency exit kit.
- Medications and medical records
- Leashes, harness or carriers for safe transport
- Current photos in case they are lost
- Bowls, cat litter and pan, and can opener
- Plastic bags and paper towels to clean up pet waste
- Toys and pet beds
- Emergency contact phone numbers
- Food and bottled water