Back to School, Back to Routine: A Home Safety Checklist for Families

Back-to-school season brings a familiar shift for families. Mornings get earlier, schedules get busier, and homes that were full of activity all summer may suddenly sit empty for much of the day.
Between packing lunches, finding backpacks and getting everyone out the door on time, home safety probably isn't at the top of the back-to-school checklist.
But a change in routine is a great opportunity to give your home a quick safety check, too.
Here are a few things to consider as your family settles into the new school year.
 

1. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
   Start with one of the most important safety systems in your home.
   Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they're installed where they should be. The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month and having smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
   It's also worth checking the age of your alarms. Smoke alarms don't last forever, and manufacturers provide replacement guidance based on the expected life of the device.
   A few minutes now can help make testing your alarms part of your family's routine throughout the school year.
    
2. Talk About What to Do in an Emergency
   As children get older and spend more time independently at home, make sure they know what to do if an alarm sounds.
   Review your family's emergency escape plan and make sure everyone knows at least two ways out of each room when possible. Choose a designated meeting place outside the home where everyone should gather during a fire emergency.
   Most importantly, make sure children understand that when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds, they should take it seriously.
   According to the U.S. Fire Administration, families should practice their home fire escape plan at least twice a year.
    
3. Make After-School Kitchen Safety Part of the Conversation
   For older kids coming home before their parents, the kitchen may be one of their first stops.
   If they're old enough to prepare food on their own, review which appliances they're allowed to use and basic cooking safety. Keep anything that can burn—such as towels, paper products and packaging—away from the stovetop./
   Cooking remains the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association, making kitchen safety an important conversation for families with increasingly independent children.
   And if younger children are home, keep matches, lighters and other ignition sources safely out of reach.
    
4. Create a Safe Charging Spot
   Phones, tablets, laptops, headphones and other rechargeable devices have become part of the school-day routine.
   Create a designated place for charging devices and avoid charging electronics on beds, couches, pillows or other soft surfaces where heat can build up.
   Use the charger designed for the device or a compatible replacement from a reputable manufacturer, and inspect charging cables for visible damage.
   It's a simple habit that becomes increasingly important as the number of rechargeable devices in our homes continues to grow.
    
5. Don't Forget the Garage
   For many families, the garage becomes a high-traffic area during the school year. Bikes come and go. Sports equipment gets dropped off. Backpacks and shoes accumulate near the door.
   But garages also contain potential hazards that deserve attention.
   Keep gasoline, paints, chemicals and other hazardous materials properly stored and out of children's reach. Make sure exits and walkways aren't blocked by bikes, boxes or sports equipment.
   Garages also present different environmental conditions than most rooms in the home, including dust, vehicle exhaust and significant temperature changes. When choosing safety devices for the garage, make sure they're specifically designed and rated for that environment.
    
6. Make Sure Kids Know How to Reach You
   If your children are beginning to spend any amount of time home without an adult, make sure they know how to contact you—and what to do if they can't.
   Keep important phone numbers somewhere accessible, including parents or guardians, a trusted neighbor or relative, and emergency services.
   For younger children, practice what information they should know in an emergency, including their full name, home address and how to call 911.
    
7. Use Connected Technology to Stay Informed
   Back-to-school schedules mean parents and children may spend more time away from home and from each other.
   Connected home technology can provide another layer of awareness when you're not there—from smart locks and cameras to connected safety devices capable of sending notifications to your phone.
   With connected PLACE devices, homeowners can receive alerts through the PLACE app, providing greater awareness of what's happening at home even when the school and workday takes everyone elsewhere.
   Technology can't replace good safety habits, but it can help families stay more connected to their homes as routines become busier.

A Safer Start to the School Year

Back-to-school preparation doesn't have to stop with notebooks, new shoes and school supplies.
Use the change in routine as a reminder to check the things protecting your home every day. Test your alarms. Review your emergency plan. Talk to your kids about kitchen and charging safety. And make sure everyone knows what to do when something isn't right.
A few simple conversations and checks can help your family start the school year feeling a little more prepared and give parents one less thing to worry about when everyone heads out the door.
 

Sources
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — Smoke alarm installation, testing and home fire safety guidance
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) — Home fire escape planning and family fire safety guidance
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) — Consumer product, battery and home safety guidance

Always follow your alarm manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions along with applicable local fire and building codes.