Summer time means traveling and traveling usually means staying at hotels and motels along the way. While you may be vigilant about insuring your safety when you are at home, do you spend the same amount of care when choosing your hotel? Many Americans just trust that all hotels have commercial fire prevention, but each year there are about 3,900 hotel and motel fires that are responsible for about $76 million in damages as well as causing over 150 injuries. Here are some tips to ensure the safety of you and your family while you are traveling.
Make Sure Your Room has a Sprinkler System and Smoke Detectors
A sprinkler system can be the best line of defense when a fire happens. About 50% of fires at hotel and motels are actually in enclosed spaces. While, the smoke alarm is able to give first notice, the sprinkler system is able to extinguish fires.
Check all Fire Extinguisher Inspection Info
Fire extinguishers are amazingly acute at stopping fires. Even with no training, 98% of participants were able to operate a fire extinguisher successfully and with just a few minutes of training, that percentage shoots up to 100%. Fire extinguishers have been able to stop fires from spreading 98% of the time. With these statistics it’s easy to see why they are so important. Make sure to know the location of the fire extinguishers in your hotel or motel. Check that all hallway fire extinguishers are up to date on inspections and refills, the information should be displayed on the unit.
Fire Protection Companies Mean a Safer Stay
Before checking in, ask the front desk to know if they employ a fire protection service also ask to see all pertinent fire alarm inspections information. Fire protection companies ensure that the sprinkler systems are properly maintained and in working order. Fire protection companies also do fire alarm monitoring, informing fire departments if there is an emergency. If they are unable to produce such documentation upon request, you should consider how seriously they take their guest’s safety.
Check all Evacuation Plans and Make Plans of Your Own
Many Hotel and motel fires happen between six and nine o’clock in the evening, but the nature of emergencies mean that they can happen at anytime. This means that it is imperative to have a plan in place. Each room should have a placard displaying the nearest exits in the building. Make sure to study this with your family and make an evacuation plan. Thirty minutes of planning could make the difference between life and death if an emergency strikes.
Your vacation should be an occasion to relax and have fun, but it is important to take steps to insure that you and your loved ones can holiday in a safe environment. Before you settle in to your hotel, spend some time inspecting your environment.
