The American Kennel Club (AKC) established National Pet Fire Safety Day – observed annually on July 15 – to remind pet owners to consider their pets when planning fire prevention measures and emergency actions in case of fire at home. According to the AKC, about 500,000 pets are affected by home fires every year. Here are steps you can take to protect your pets.

Your Home

First, it’s important to prevent fires in your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, pets accidentally cause nearly 1,000 home fires each year. You can make modifications to your home to help reduce the risk of fires, including:

• Removing the knobs from your stove before leaving the house
• Not leaving open flames unattended
• Using flameless candles as part of your décor
• Making sure young pets are secure while you’re cooking, grilling or using candles
• Using monitored smoke detectors to alert you quickly of a fire

Pet Emergency Kit

If you have an emergency kit for your family, make sure to include items for your pets:

• Extra water and food in an airtight, waterproof container
• Medications and first aid kit
• Backup collar with ID tag along with extra harness or leash
• Trash bags, litter box and litter
• A photo of you and/or your family with the pet
• A designated place for your pet to stay in emergencies – not all hotels welcome pets

Fire Escape Plan

Because many pet owners consider their furry (and not-so-furry) companions to be valued family members, it makes sense to ensure they are not left behind during an emergency escape.

Keep these tips in mind when creating a fire escape plan:

• Include your entire household in creating the plan. Determine who will be responsible for securing pets and leading them to safety.
• Choose an outdoor meeting area.
• Know the places your pets like to hide when stressed.
• Remember to include your pets when practicing escape routes with your family.
• Keep a collar on your dog and put leashes and cat carriers in an easy-to-access spot near an exit point so that you can grab them on your way out.
• Walk through your home and identify two exits from every room.
• Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street.
• Be prepared to exit immediately if you hear your smoke alarm.
• Never return to a burning building. Once you are outside, stay out.
• Put pet alert stickers on each side of your house or one in every apartment window.

If you have not created a family fire plan, take this opportunity to draw up a plan and practice with your pets. A little planning can save the entire family, including your furry friends, from harm.

Sources:
American Kennel Club
National Fire Protection Association
Ready.gov/pets
American Red Cross