1. Test Your Smoke Alarms (2 minutes)

Smoke alarms are your first line of defense.

• Press the test button on each alarm — you should hear a loud beep.
• Check there's one on every level of your home, and ideally inside or near each bedroom.
• Replace batteries if the alarm chirps weakly or not at all (a good habit: change batteries every year).
• Replace the whole unit if it's more than 10 years old — sensors wear out over time, even if the alarm still "works."

Quick tip: Can't remember when you last changed the battery? Just do it now. It takes 30 seconds and removes all doubt.

If you're missing coverage in a room or replacing an old unit, our Smoke Detector Plus is a straightforward option — easy to install, with a loud, clear alarm and a long-life sensor so you're not thinking about it again for years.

2. Walk Your Escape Routes (2 minutes)

In a real fire, you won't have time to think — you'll need to act on instinct. That only works if you've planned ahead.

• Identify two ways out of every room, if possible (a door and a window).
• Make sure windows that are meant to be used as exits actually open easily.
• Check that hallways, stairs, and doorways are clear of clutter or furniture blocking the path.
• Confirm door and window keys (if needed) are somewhere obvious and accessible — not lost in a drawer.

Family tip: Pick a meeting point outside your home (like a neighbor's mailbox or a tree across the street) where everyone gathers after escaping. This avoids people going back inside to "check" on each other.

3. Scan for Everyday Fire Hazards (2 minutes)

Most house fires start with ordinary household items, not dramatic accidents. Take a quick look around for these common culprits:

• Kitchen: Is anything flammable (towels, paper, food packaging) sitting near the stove?
• Outlets: Are any power outlets overloaded with too many plugs or extension cords stacked on each other?
• Cords: Any frayed, cracked, or damaged electrical cords on lamps or appliances?
• Candles: Are they placed on stable surfaces, away from curtains, paper, or bedding — and never left burning unattended?
• Dryer: Has the lint trap been cleared recently? (Lint buildup is a surprisingly common fire cause.)

4. Check Your Fire Equipment (2 minutes)

Having the right tools nearby — and knowing how to use them — makes a real difference in a small fire.

• Fire extinguisher: Is there one in or near the kitchen? Check the gauge to confirm it's still charged.
• Fire blanket: A great low-cost option for kitchen fires, especially grease fires (never use water on those).
• Know the basics: If you have an extinguisher, remember PASS — Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. If you don't have an extinguisher yet, a small multipurpose one for the kitchen is one of the best low-cost investments you can make for home safety. The right size depends on where it'll live and how it'll be used:
• 1kg Fire Extinguisher — compact and light, ideal for kitchens, apartments, or a car. Easy to grab and handle quickly for small, early-stage fires.
• 3kg Fire Extinguisher — more capacity for larger homes, garages, or workshops, where you want a bit more coverage if a fire has a chance to grow before you reach it.

Pair either with our Fire Blanket in the kitchen — it's often the fastest, safest response to a stovetop or grease fire, since it smothers flames without spreading them.

If you live in a larger home, multi-unit building, or often have family, cleaners, or pet sitters needing access, an Emergency Key Box can be a genuinely useful addition. It stores a spare key securely outside your home with a code lock, so emergency responders (or a trusted neighbor) can get in quickly if you're not home and every second counts.

5. Review Your Evacuation Plan With Everyone in the Home (2 minutes)

A plan only helps if everyone knows it — including kids, guests, or elderly family members.

• Talk through the two exits from each room.
• Agree on the outdoor meeting spot.
• If you have young children, teach them the basics: get low, get out, stay out.
• If anyone in the home has mobility challenges, think through how they'd get out and who would help them.
• Consider a quick, no-pressure practice run once or twice a year — it doesn't need to be a big production, just enough that it's not a total unknown.

You're Done — Here's What to Do With What You Found