Why Keeping Your Bedroom Door Closed at Night Makes Sense
While everybody has their own unique sleeping habits, some of them develop subconsciously during childhood. For instance, if you were raised in a household where it was customary to shut the bedroom doors at night, you likely maintain this practice as an adult without giving it much thought. However, this simple habit can potentially save your life in the event of a fire. So, if you haven't been in the practice of shutting the door before sleeping, consider this as your nudge to start.
We had the opportunity to chat with Jennifer Williams, the research amplification lead at the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), to delve into why it's so crucial to close your bedroom door before drifting off to sleep. The numbers are startling, and hopefully, they will be enough to convince you never to overlook this nightly "closing shift" task.
The Importance of Closing Doors Before Sleep
Williams highlights that 50% of home fire fatalities occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., which is often when most people are asleep. If you've ever been woken up abruptly in the middle of the night, be it due to smoke alarms (even if false), nightmares, or a needy pet, you should know that feeling disoriented can take a minute or two to shake off. According to Williams, research indicates that individuals usually have an average of three minutes (and less if the fire began due to a lithium battery) to escape a swiftly spreading house fire. In other words, every second matters, and it's human nature to lose some of them between rubbing your eyes and reacting to the situation.
"We consistently witness the difference a closed door can make," says Williams. According to the FSRI's Close Before You Doze campaign, a closed door can hinder the spread of fire by cutting off its oxygen supply. This minor action can potentially result in a 900-degree difference between a room with its door closed and one with it wide open. Moreover, a closed door can help keep carbon monoxide levels at 1,000 PPM instead of 10,000 PPM in a room left open.
Formulate a Plan
A shut door creates a barrier between yourself and the harmful heat and smoke, offering you a little more time and protection to compose yourself and make an escape, explains Williams. In the context of escaping, she emphasizes the paramount importance of having a plan. Plan A should be to exit the room through the door, ensuring it's shut behind you, and reunite with your family members at a predetermined spot outside. Before exiting the door, feel the handle or knob to ascertain whether it's safe to open.
If it feels warm, plan B should be to escape through the window. If that isn't an option, plan C should be to wait for the fire department to arrive. Williams points out that the average fire department response time is 6 minutes from dispatch. Keeping the door shut can provide you an extra couple of minutes while they make their way towards you. While closing your bedroom doors at night is crucial to your nightly routine, Williams advises taking it an additional step by closing all the doors in the house. This ensures that if the fire originates in one room where no one is sleeping, it can isolate the fire and slow down its spread, thereby keeping your home safer for your family to escape and making it easier for the firefighters to rescue you.
Still skeptical about closing your doors prior to sleep? The FSRI released a captivating video, Close Before You Doze, which showcases the transformative impact a door can have. According to Williams, 68% of the individuals who became aware of the Close Before You Doze campaign resolved to shut their doors (even those who hadn't done so in the past).
Nighttime Fire Safety Tips
Besides shutting the doors while sleeping, Williams generously shared some other fundamental dos and don'ts designed to protect you and your family more effectively.
- Regularly test your smoke alarms to make sure they're functioning properly at least twice a year.
- Create a fire escape plan that considers various scenarios (day, night, and a fire in a specific room), and practice it with all family members present.
- Unplug devices that can generate heat, such as phones, laptops, and printers, to lower the risk of electrical fires.
- Utilize heated blankets or space heaters according to their instructions and never leave them unattended.
- Prevent running appliances overnight, especially those that produce heat like washers and dryers.
- While it's not advisable to charge electric vehicles or scooters during the night, Williams stresses the importance of ensuring they do not obstruct any exits.
[1] National Fire Protection Association. (2018). Fire Door Assemblies (NFPA 80). Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Retrieve-distribution-of-fire-deaths-by-cause-of-fire[3] National Fire Protection Association. (2022). Home Fire Safety (NFPA 3000). Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Teaching-Resources/Outreach-Resources/Home-Fire-Safety-Documentary[5] National Fire Protection Association. (2019). Home Fire Prevention Week (NFPA 1033). Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Retrieve-distribution-of-fire-deaths-by-cause-of-fire
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The BHG (Better Homes and Gardens) magazine frequently features Home Improvement Ideas, such as decorating tips for Bedrooms. With the increase in awareness about fire safety, many homeowners are now considering revamping their rooms to include fire-resistant materials and noting the importance of closing Bedroom doors before sleeping.
Busy homeowners looking for quick and easy Home Improvement Ideas can turn to the BHG website or magazine for inspiration. They might find decorating ideas for their Rooms, including setting up fire safety features such as closing the door to the Bedroom at night.
