Fire Safety Tips for your Home


October 5-11, 2014 is National Fire Prevention Week

So it’s a good time to think about fire safety.

 

 In only a matter of minutes, a small house fire can rage out of control. Heat temperatures can reach up to 1,500°F. & thick black smoke can quickly fill the house making it difficult to see and emitting carbon monoxide gas.  Along with installing smoke detectors in your home, you should have multi-purpose fire extinguishers (type ABC) in areas accessible to the kitchen, utility rooms and garage. Walk your family through a fire drill so everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of fire.  Practice the fire escape plan regularly.

Every room in the house should have at least two escape exits. If one of these is a window from a second story, install ladders that can be dropped from the windows. Make sure everyone knows where the family will reunite outside the home so you know everyone got out safely. 

If you live or work in a high-rise building, locate the fire exits on your floor. If an alarm sounds, remember that you should always use the fire stairs, not the elevator.

 

Safety Tips

Don't overload electrical circuits with too many appliances. If your fuses are blowing or your circuit breakers are popping, hire an electrician to look at your system.

Don't run extension cords under rugs or carpets. The cords wear easily and may short out causing a fire.

Nails or staples used to attach electrical cords to the walls or baseboards can damage the cords and cause fire or shock hazards. Tape cords to walls or floors instead of using nails or staples.

Replace frayed electrical cords before they burn or cause a fire.

Keep combustibles away from the furnace, which can emit flames or sparks.

An electrical outlet or switch that is warm or hot to the touch may indicate a potentially dangerous wiring condition. In such a situation unplug cords, avoid using switches, and call an electrician to check the wiring.

Ceiling fixtures and recessed lights trap heat. Since overheating can lead to fire, don't use a high-wattage bulb in such a fixture. If you don't know the correct wattage, use a bulb of 60 or fewer watts.

Always extinguish the fire in a fire place or wood stove before leaving the house and before going to bed.

Unplug hair dryer or any other small appliance in the bathroom when not in use.

An electric blanket should not be tucked in at the sides. It may overheat and start a fire.

Be sure to turn a heating pad off before you go to sleep. It can cause burns even at a relatively low setting.

Never leave food unattended on the stove & turn pot & pan handles inward or toward the counter so they aren’t accidentally knocked over.

To prevent grease fires, keep the stove clear of anything flammable, including pot holders, napkins, and towels.

Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children

Keep baking soda on hand for extinguishing kitchen fires

To make a dry fire extinguisher, pour 6 pounds of fine sand into a large container and add 2 pounds of baking soda. Stir the mixture thoroughly. Keep the container in your shop, garage, or kitchen. This mixture can be sprinkled directly on small oil, grease, and petroleum fires.

 

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