To ask what you have at home

[tootoasty]

Was talking with a colleagues yesterday about safety devises at home and they made out that I was kind of over the top with things I have.
They got the house alarm and ring cameras for security outside and things like first aid kits and co2 thingy but started laughing when I told them I had fire extinguishers upstairs and downstairs, with fire blankets in kitchen.
Just wondered what people have in their homes. I'd assumed everyone would have everything they could

Antiseptic and plasters
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Mobile phone

I don't think it's silly to have fire extinguishers in the house. You may never need it but it's way better to have one at hand should you need to use it.

We have a smaller alarm (I think all houses have to have them?) and carbon dioxide alarm. I’m thinking about getting a ring doorbell.

A window to peep out and see who's at the door. Almost empty packets of ibuprofen / paracetamol. Out of date anti histamine. Broken smoke alarm.

None of those things - why would I? (And I live in a city).

Fire alarm, carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm (although DH uses it when he’s making cocktails for dry ice 🙄) was very funny when he sprayed it in his face! First aid kit and car kit which comprises of a hammer to smash the window and something to cut the seat belt in case we get submerged underwater. Got two of those as I have a phobia of being trapped in the car and drowning.

Wow people really going to town on the fact that a few of us made a mistake in our posts! Yes of course we meant carbon monoxide - but you would think anyone reading would put two and two together, realise what’s was meant and moved on! 😂

We have Carbon monoxide alarm, cameras, baseball bat (in bedroom), air rifle (secured in bedroom), first aid kit and a clear fire exit plan we both know depending on rooms in the house/where our DS is

Just a smoke alarm

@tootoasty

Maybe I took that fire Officer course I did a bit too much to heart

We've got a smoke alarm and a shoe box with some pills/plasters/creams in.

Could I ask those of you with security lights, could you check that they are angled downwards rather than up? I went to a talk at the local uni the other week about how much artificial lights are mucking about with animals, birds and plants' natural rhythms. It's a simple thing to do, but can make a huge difference.

Re the fire blanket in the kitchen, I remember as a teenager, putting out a chip pan fire at my friend's house with a wet tea towel. I'd learnt how to do it from watching Blue Peter. Good old Blue Peter!

@tootoasty

Maybe I took that fire Officer course I did a bit too much to heart

No you didn’t. You are being sensible. I do have a fire blanket for kitchen. But not extinguishers- they have to be replaced every so often and I can’t afford it. The only other thing with fire extinguishers is that people misunderstand what they’re for. They aren’t to put out small fires (use blanket for that) but should be by your exit to be able to ensure you can get out safely. People put in kitchens and not by doorways which is daft. You shouldn’t stay and try to put out a fire and extinguishers tend to get people in mindset that they should try .At very least people can end up with smoke inhalation issues.

Fire/smoke alarms are not over the top- essential and in new builds for years are mandatories. Cost a few pounds so mental not to have. Similarly with carbon monoxide if you have gas in house.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, first aid kit, medicines for DS and for us- that's about it. Fire extinguishers are fine as long as the recommended checks are undertaken, invariably though if the house is on fire the safest thing is usually to try and get out rather than run for one and try and tackle it yourself; if you are trapped upstairs then window open, lie on the floor and put fabric you have (ideally damp) under the door.

I've not be of those things. But I have windows that open fully so I can escape from a house fire. I grew up in the chip pan fire days. My parents had fire extinguishers. When I stay anywhere I take notice of fire evacuation routes. When I was the only adult in the house, I used to have an axe/weapons upstairs.

We have smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector, don't have an official first aid kit, just pain relief including aspirin for potential heart attacks, anti histamines and some plasters and tape. In an emergency involving heavy bleeding etc I can do all that's needed with a tea towel or two.

Ring alarm and security cameras, CO2 monitors in kitchen, smoke alarms, first aid kit. No fire extinguishers or fire blanket though.

All I have is smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarm.

No 1st aid kit. That's what tissues are for.

No house alarm or video door bell . The dog does that job.

@Patented

Fire blanket in the kitchen. Surely everyone should have one?

Why? I've never needed one in all my years and if I did, I'd improvise with towels.

Our house came fitted with burglar and smoke alarms. We also bought a first aid kit. We have a fire blanket too, but that’s for the baby to play with rather than it’s intended use. (They’re really cheap though!)

Smoke alarm, would have a carbon monoxide if there was gas in the building, various bits and pieces in bathroom drawers that might add up to most of a first aid kit.

3-4 people are killed by cows each year in the UK but generally not in the home; living in a first floor flat I'm not sure a cow would be a threat to me unless someone else buzzed it into the building.

All of those. I but I've been in two house fires... And got out because of alarms!

More important than having the kit is knowing how to use it safely. And more important than that is being alert to prevent things before they happen.

So whilst we do have a fair bit of kit more emphasis is on things like our sharp knives are in a higher cupboard not a low drawer. We use the back hobs before the front ones and spin pan handles away from the edge. Meds and chemicals are out of sight, out of reach, and when necessary, locked away. We have torches in bedside drawers, a lock on the garden gate, soft surfaces under play equipment in the garden, netting on the trampoline, no pond, and paddling pool is emptied after use.

I have never known anyone have a fire blanket or extinguisher apart from my university houses.
We have fire alarm, co2 alarm, cctv and a house alarm

In the house we have fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and first aid kits. Getting a Ring doorbell or similar is on the to-list but haven't got around to it yet. This thread has inspired me to get a fire blanket for the kitchen.

There is an emergency bag in the car that is arguably more OTT - warning triangle, hi-vis vest, first aid kit, long life food and water, foil blankets, towel, torch and pen/paper. Alongside more usual things like spare sunglasses, de-icer, scraper and umbrella. There's also one of those tools for smashing windows and cutting seatbelts in the glove box.