National Pet Fire Safety Day
Today is National Pet Fire Safety Day. As a devoted pet parent, you do everything you can to provide for the comfort and health of your pet including how to plan for emergencies such as fire prevention. In 2008, The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and ADT Security Services partnered to sponsor the National Pet Fire Safety Day to spread awareness about how pets can start home fires and how to prevent fires. Today, this topic continues to be relevant as it is estimated that 500,000 pets are affected every year by fires with 1,000 house fires started by pets themselves. Following is valuable information compiled from the AKC website.
PREVENT YOUR PET FROM STARTING FIRES
Extinguish open flames: Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flames before leaving your home. Be warned about candlewax warmers as well. These pose not only a potential fire risk if left on for extended times but also a burn risk to your pet due to the extremely hot wax should the warmer be knocked over.
Remove stove knobs: Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
Invest in flameless candles: These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
Beware of water bowls on wooden decks: Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE
Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home: Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
Secure Young Pets: Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home: Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling: Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach a static cling to a front window. The ASPCA provides pet parents a free pet safety pack including a pet rescue window decal. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets and notifies them to look for pets. It is important to update the number of pets listed.
Pet King Brands, the maker of pet health care products ZYMOX ® Dermatology and Oratene® Brushless Oral believe that healthy animals lead happy lives™. Fire safety is a very important aspect to keeping our pets healthy as well as safe. To learn more about fire safety and additional information regarding preparing for emergencies visit aspca.org and akc.org.
