To keep your pet safe during a house fire only takes a little bit of planning on your part. You may already have a plan set in place for you and your family, but does it include how to safely evacuate your pets? What about curious pets who are left home alone for any period of time and inadvertently cause a fire? Since yesterday was National Pet Fire Safety Day, here are a few tips to help you keep them safe.
Pet Proof Your Home: Walk around your home and check for areas where pets might take a keen interest. Stove knobs, loose wires, candles and even fireplaces can be major culprits if you have a curious or active pet. If you do have a wood burning fireplace, ensure it is properly gated off, and never leave your pet unattended near an open flame.
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- Pet Proof Your Home: Walk around your home and check for areas where pets might take a keen interest. Stove knobs, loose wires, candles and even fireplaces can be major culprits if you have a curious or active pet. If you do have a wood burning fireplace, ensure it is properly gated off, and never leave your pet unattended near an open flame.
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- Keep Your Pets Near An Entrance: If you leave your pets alone and a fire does break out, this will help fire crews locate them easily. Keep your young pets, especially puppies, secured and away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home.
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- Establish A Buddy System: Who’s in charge of the pets? This is something you need to establish before an emergency happens. Determine which family member is responsible for which pet, and know where your pet’s favorite hiding spots are. If there is a fire, this may be the first place they run.
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- Use Pet Alert Stickers On Your Windows: You can find these at your local pet store, shelter or online. There are many different designs but they should generally include how many and what type of pets are in the home, along with your phone number. If a fire breaks out while you are not home, this may be the only thing telling emergency personnel you have more than one dog. You can also get a free pet safety pack from the ASPCA here.
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- Phone A Friend: If you end up having to stay in a hotel or even shelter, most likely your pet will not be allowed inside. As part of your emergency prep, talk with a friend or family member about taking your pet short-term, or research pet-friendly hotels as a backup. If you have an emergency pet kit, be sure to include this information inside.
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- Establish A Pet-Friendly Escape Route: If time permits, you will want to try and take your pet’s crate or kennel with you, and in order to get it out in a timely manner, you need to make sure your escape route will allow for it. If time does not permit, keeping your pet’s leash by the door can be helpful for a quick grab and go. Make sure your pet has an updated microchip, and ID tags on their collar.
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- Practice Makes Perfect: Yes, it might sound silly, and you may even feel a little silly doing it, but it could be the one thing you do that saves your pet’s life. When no one is confused about the plan, no one can make a mistake.
References
1. Markingourterritory 2.Biljac 3.Petbucket 4. Drfostersandsmith 5.Petkings 6. Freedomfromfire 7. Webmd
