When it comes to fire safety, most homeowners think of installing fire extinguishers but often overlook having a fire blanket as well.

A fire blanket is a safety device that is designed to extinguish small fires. It is made of fire-retardant material, usually fiberglass or woven nylon coated with a silicone-based flame retardant. When placed over a small fire, the blanket cuts off the supply of oxygen to the flame, thereby smothering the fire.

Fire blankets are usually placed in the kitchen to handle small fires but they can also be used to help someone whose clothes are on fire. By wrapping the individual in the fire blanket and having them stop, drop and roll, the fire can be smothered and put out quickly.

Why should your home have one?

If you already have a fire extinguisher, asking why you should have a fire blanket as well is a fair question. So here are a few good reasons to have a fire blanket:

No formal training needed

Fire blankets are so easy to use, even a child can work with them. While fire extinguishers need some training on how to use them, fire blankets need no formal training, making them the easiest fire safety devices to use in the home.

Ready and reliable

As long as the fire blanket has been replaced from a previous incident, it is always ready to use and reliable. You see, fire extinguishers may fail sometimes, but that is impossible with fire blankets that are always reliable.

Person on fire

It is impossible to put out a person whose clothes are on fire using a fire extinguisher. The best and safest way to do it is to wrap them in a fire blanket and have them roll on the ground until the fire is put out.

Escaping a fire

Sometimes a fire is too big even for your extinguisher and you have to get out of the house immediately. You can get out safely by wrapping a fire blanket around your body to protect yourself from the flames and getting out of the house as quickly as you can.

Available, affordable and reusable

You don't need to go to a fire safety shop to get fire blankets. You can get them whenever you need them from your local hardware stores at much more affordable rates than fire extinguishers. In addition, you can have a fire blanket cleaned and reused after a small incident so you don't have to buy another one each time there is a fire.

Along with all the other safety devices, fire blankets are versatile fire safety devices that every home certainly must have.