4 Ways to Protect Your Family This Summer: Fire Safety and Life

1. Fireworks and Grilling Safety

Fireworks are exciting—but dangerous. Every year, they cause thousands of fires and injuries. It’s important to follow local laws, not let kids handle fireworks, and keep a bucket of water nearby in case of emergency.

Grilling can also go from tasty to tragic. Before your next cookout, follow some simple safety rules: set up your grill away from your house, trees, or anything that can catch fire. Clean the grill regularly to avoid flare-ups and never leave your grill unattended when in use.

Pro tip: Having a working fire extinguisher or fire blanket within reach – just in case.

2. Keep Your Home Fire-Safe

According to the National Safety Council (NSC.org) about three out of five fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms [1]. That’s why it’s so important to check smoke alarms regularly. Get into a routine. Test them monthly, install alarms in every bedroom and on each floor. And when you hear that all too annoying alarm beep, don’t try to ignore it. Change those batteries right away.

Also, inspect your dryer vent. Lint buildup can easily cause a fire. Clean the lint trap after every load and check the vent outside for blockages.

In the kitchen, make sure your cooking equipment is in good shape. Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended. If something smells off or looks damaged, replace it.

3. Make an Emergency Escape Plan

One home structure fire is reported every 95 seconds, according to Injury Facts [2]. Whether you live in an apartment, a trailer, or single-family home, every household should have a fire escape plan. You and your family should pick a safe meeting spot outside, practice two ways out of each room, and go over it with everyone, including the kids.

Creating a safe zone, or sufficient distance around fire-prone areas (like fire pits and grills) also helps prevent accidents. Ten feet is the minimum clearance for structures, homes, fences and other flammable objects. Three feet is recommended for children and pets. [3]

4.Think Beyond Fire: Life & Injury Protection

While practicing prevention safety measures minimizes your risk for mishaps, accidents can still happen. That’s why many families consider accidental death and dismemberment insurance (often called AD&D insurance) or a personal accident insurance policy. These can offer financial protection if someone is seriously injured or dies due to an accident—like a fire, fall, or unexpected summer incident.

Policies vary, but Kemper Life offers accidental death policies such as an affordable accident and fire Insurance policy that can help cover lost income, medical bills, or funeral costs. Kemper Life coverages can give your family peace of mind during the worst-case scenarios.

Summer is for memories—not emergencies. With a few smart steps and the right fire protection services and life coverage in place, you can enjoy the season with less worry.

Protect your home. Protect your family. And protect your peace of mind.

Sources:

[1] https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/emergency-preparedness/fire-safety?srsltid=AfmBOor7VyzmopKjypg-mLEd0zP5hBavW1Iz2TvLItOv0sFpiqkSoJt2

[2] https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/fire-related-fatalities-and-injuries/

[3] https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outdoor-fires/