It is the hottest time of the year and we are in a drought so that means, every bush in your backyard is dry. Which also means fires can spark up quicker. Discussing fire safety is super important for the safety of you and your pet. Did you know about 1,000 home fire cases are started by the family animals?
July 15 is National Fire Safety Day so we wanted to provide you with some tips on how to make sure your pet is part of the family plan and to keep them safe in case of a fire…
Always extinguish open flames!
Pets find cooking appliances, candles, and fireplaces very interesting. Make sure you are not leaving your pets home alone with any type of open flame, like a candle burning. You should also consider removing your stove knobs. It can protect bigger animals from knocking into them and starting a flame. Try purchasing flameless candles that use a bulb instead of an open flame. The last tip is to provide a secure place for your animals and to place your open flame items out of reach.
Always keep them in the plan!
The best way to protect them is to plan for them. Pets should have their own fire safety kits just like each family member does. When practicing your escape plan, make sure to practice it with your animal as well, so you can be prepared. If you must evacuate the home, plan to pick up your pet or come up with a defense, so they can find their way out as well.
If you are stuck in a situation where you must evacuate….
Assist the firefighters with your pets!
Keep the animals near the entrances of the home if they are in crates when away. It’s also best to keep their collars on and their leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue them. When you leave animals home alone, make them easily accessible for the firefighters which means, not in crates towards the back of the house.
Put a pet alert window cling on your front window and write down the number of animals you have inside, so the firefighters know to go in if you are not home. ALWAYS update the list.
Overall, make smart decisions and be careful. If you leave your animals home alone when you are out, double check to make sure all the flames are out. If you have anymore questions, visit our website www.phoenixvetcenter.com
