Posted on December 17, 2019 at 9:09 AM by Lisa Montano
Happy New Year! The new year is a great time to review your home for fire and safety hazards. The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. In addition, to checking for fire hazards, do a safety check of your
home-
If there are children in the home
- Keep medicines, cleaning fluids and sharp objects in a latched or locked cabinet or drawer
- Use toddler gates at the top and bottom of stairs in homes with a child under three
- Keep window blind and drapery cords secured
- Use safe furniture and toys
- Assess general safety precautions to prevent accidents and injuries
Electrical Hazards
- Are appliances checked periodically for good operating conditions?
- Are you careful not to run extension cords under rugs or over hooks and nails?
- When using extension cords for appliances, does the gauge of both cords match?
- Are electrical outlets overloaded?
Housekeeping
- Do you keep rubbish cleaned out of attics, garages and yards?
- Is paint kept in tightly closed metal containers?
- Are flammable liquids stored in safety cans and kept away from heat and children?
- Have you make it a rule to NEVER use flammable liquids for cleaning clothes or start fires?
- Are oily rags kept in a tightly sealed container?
- Is your clothes dryer vent clean and properly installed?
Heating and Cooking
If you have a fireplace, is a screen always placed in front of it?
- Is the filter for your forced air heater changed yearly and the venting cleaned?
- Are furnaces and wood burning stoves in good repair and located away from combustible walls and ceilings?
- Do you have the fireplace chimney cleaned and checked periodically?
- Do you make sure combustibles are not stored near the stove, heater or fireplace?
- Do your children keep a safe distance from flame and heat sources?
Print the Fire Safety Checklist and go over the list with your family. Practice home escape fire drills at least twice a year. Have a happy and fire safe NEW YEAR!!!