Burn Notice: Petplan Reveals the Three Biggest Fire Safety Mistakes Pet Parents Make

Newtown Square, PA (PRWEB) July 05, 2017

Having a pet can be a real learning curve, but there's one aspect of pet parenthood that leaves no room for error: fire safety for four-legged friends. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 500,000 pets are affected by home fires each year, and Petplan pet insurance says average costs for burns and smoke inhalation can range from $440 to nearly $3,000.*

With Pet Fire Safety Day approaching on July 15, Petplan is raising awareness about prevention and planning for emergencies, and revealed the most common fire-safety mistakes people make:

Mistake 1: Forgetting the first line of defense.
Petplan says prevention is the most important part of fire safety with four-legged friends, and many pet parents overlook these rules of thumb:

• Replace traditional candles with flameless ones, remove and cover oven knobs (the NFPA says a cook top is the number one agent involved in pets starting fires), secure wires and cables out of paws' reach to prevent chewing, and always use a fireplace screen.
• Keep fresh batteries in smoke detectors and test them often to ensure they work properly.
• Have at least one home fire extinguisher, check it regularly, and be sure every member of the household knows how to use it.

Mistake 2: Not having an exit plan.
Petplan says every home should have an evacuation plan for their pets, but this is one safety measure many pet parents skip:

• Keep leashes or carriers in an accessible place close to the exits and be sure your pet is wearing an ID tag (keep a spare on the leash/in the carrier if your pet doesn't usually wear a collar).
• Pick several escape locations, in case you're unable to take your preferred route, and designate duties for each household member. It should be one person's job to grab the pets and another's to gather supplies.
• Consider packing a "go" bag with items like a harness, a muzzle (frightened dogs can and do bite), tranquilizers or natural calming remedies, basic first-aid supplies and a familiar t-shirt or blanket to provide some of the comfort of home.

Mistake 3: Not planning for when pets are home alone.
The scary truth is that pet parents aren't always home when a fire starts, leaving pets especially vulnerable to injury. Petplan encourages pet parents to:

• Secure pets near an exit if they are crated while home alone, or keep them confined to the first floor so responders can reach them faster.
• Put a pet rescue alert in the front window to let first responders know there are pets in the house that need to be found (and where they may be hiding).
• Consider using monitored smoke detectors to provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms. In a situation where pets are home alone, these systems trigger emergency personnel to be dispatched as soon as a smoke alarm goes off in the home.

"No one wants to imagine a fire threatening their home--let alone the life of their pets," says Natasha Ashton, co-founder and co-CEO of Petplan. "But preparedness is power, and every pet parent should do their due diligence to ensure pets are as safe and protected as possible. If you're not making any of the mistakes above, then paw it forward by donating or fundraising on behalf of your local fire department to purchase pet oxygen masks. In most states, emergency responders lack the equipment to resuscitate pets. The next best thing to saving your own pet's life could be saving your neighbor's." For more pet health tips and safety info, and to fetch a free, customizable pet rescue alert, visit http://www.gopetplan.com/firesafety.

• according to Petplan claims data 2012-2016.

ABOUT PETPLAN
Petplan has built an industry-leading pet insurance policy for pet parents who demand a higher pedigree of care for their best friends. We've leveraged 40 years of global experience to create completely customizable coverage pet parents can feel confident in, and world-class claims service -- 24 hours a day, every day.

Petplan's innovative approach to pet insurance has been recognized by Forbes, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Inc. magazine, Smart CEO, the Communicator Awards, Ernst & Young and many others.

Petplan policies are underwritten in the U.S. by AGCS Marine Insurance Company, a member of the Allianz Group (rated A+ A.M. Best), and XL Specialty Insurance Company; and in Canada by XL Specialty Insurance Company-Canadian Branch. XL Specialty Insurance Company is rated A+ by S&P as of 2017. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. For more information about Petplan pet insurance, visit http://www.petplan.com or call 1-866-467-3875.

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