In every house, you can expect to find certain things: stove, couches, toilets, refrigerators, etc. They are necessary and practical for living, and they’re at the forefront of the mind for most people when they move into a new house. But there are some not-so-obvious things every household should have. They tend to be things that are needed in an emergency but are good to have around all the time.
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Every house comes equipped with smoke alarms, but most don’t have carbon monoxide detectors, especially old ones. A good CO2 monitor will plug into any outlet and warn you and your family of an odorless and colorless killer in your home.
An Evacuation Plan
When an emergency hits, there won’t be time to think about how to get out of the house. Fires in the home will cause panic and lead to poor decisions. Devise and implement an evacuation plan for every room in your house. Map out the best ways to get out of the house and practice doing it. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but it’s a necessary plan to have.
Toilet Plunger
This is without a doubt an emergency-type situation in a list of not-so-obvious things every household should have. Go ahead and giggle—it’s funny. People never think about a toilet plunger until the worst has happened. A toilet plunger is cheaper than calling a plumber to come over and having to explain what’s in there and why the water won’t go down. Anyone who didn’t have a plunger when needed will never be without one again.
Pocket Lighters
Even if you don’t smoke, it’s good to have a few lighters in the house. When the power goes out, they are great for lighting candles. You also need them for lighting the fireplace in the winter and the grill in the summer. Lighting a fire is our most basic of survival instincts, yet we ignore that instinct in the modern world.
Portable Charger
Cell phones are as important a survival tool as fire these days. If the power goes out or some other calamity befalls you in your house, you will need your phone to stay in communication and call for help. With the phone, you can search for information and find answers in an emergency. You can take advantage of the flashlight app on a phone too if you are without a real one.
Fire Extinguishers
Grease fires in the kitchen are at the top of the house fire causation list. Keep a few fire extinguishers in the house in areas likely to have a fire. Places like the kitchen, garage, and utility room are more likely to have a fire in them. Hang them in a spot they are easy to access in an emergency.
