You can never be too cautious about potential threats of a fire in your home
Follow these safety tips to be fire and burn safe!!!
- Primary prevention is smoke detectors
- Install an alarm system if you are able to have done & have monitored.
- Place fire extinguishers in high fire/smoke risk areas of the home: kitchen, laundry, garage & at exits. It is recommended to have fire extinguishers at or near exits of your home. Purchase the correct type for the specific area of your home. Visit www.nsc.org or www.nfpa.org which are safety & fire websites. Fire safety recommendations for children can be found at www.sparky.org.
- Check batteries in smoke alarms monthly & always have backup batteries available.
- Fire escape plan in place & practiced.
Go to www.nfpa.org/education for great ideas on fire escape plans.
Additional safety tips that cover cooking safety in the kitchen & outdoor grill use, candle burning safety & other fire prevention tips:
- Never leave food cooking unsupervised in your kitchen in over or on the stove or for cooking outside your home on a grill or fry pan
- know how to quickly put out grease fires by throwing flour on it or natural fire retardent cotton towel to suffocate & NEVER throw water on a grease fire in the kitchen
- never place any paper products within 3 feet of an open flame or hot surface in your kitchen & never cook with loose clothing or hanging accessories or hair down which is a fire hazard.
- Keep dryer vent & hose clean of all lint. Clean behind dryer & clean vent of dryer outside your home.
- Never leave a candle burning that is unattended even in another room & especially if you plan to leave your home
- Keep all fire hazards in locked cabinets and away from child’s reach or play such as matches, lighters, lighter fluid or candles
- Some homeowners consider installing sprinkler systems in areas of their home
- Never burn on your property unless you know your local laws on burning and there is not a burn band, there is no wind, the ground is wet or saturated outside of your burn area, you do not have any overhang where burning, have water hose on and available or water ready if needed.
Products for fire prevention in your home:
- Extinguisher
- Smoke detectors
Electrical Safety Child & Adult
- Cover and repair all exposed wires, cover outlets, remove cords from walk path, repair any broken electrical devices that may be a fire or electrical hazard, never place a cord or wires under carpet or rugs, use child-safe covers over outlets.
- Clean and label your breaker box appropriately and keep free of dust, debris or leaves.
- Consider a lock if your box is outside to deter burglars.
- Never change a light bulb or work on any electrical device that has the power or is plugged in the wall
- Use ground circuit interrupters in outlets near water such as in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry or garage; these interrupters should be inspected monthly for proper working condition and after an electric storm
- Have a professional inspect your electricity for fire hazards and to maintain your home is within proper codes for operating all electrical devices
- Never use appliances near a sink such as a hairdryer or a radio near the bathtub
- Never leave exposed wires within reach of child & use child-safe products to keep children away from wires and cords.
- Have electrical equipment checked for any poor conditioning parts or wires that looked damaged? Do not overload electrical outlets with adapters and extension cords.
- Do not use electrical devices or appliances near water.
- Have your breaker box inspected for safety and older homes inspected by a professional?
Products for electrical safety:
GAS SAFETY
Follow gas safety on all your gas appliances & install carbon monoxide detectors in your home in the proper location. See our carbon monoxide poisoning prevention page. Visit the website: www.safegas.org to learn more about gas.
What does gas smell like?
Natural gas in its natural form doesn’t have an odor but the gas company adds something to the gas we use for our home so when there is a gas leak then you should smell a foul odor that smells like rotten eggs.
What do you do if you suspect a gas leak? It may be critical that you leave the home immediately depending on how much of a leak you have.
Gas Leak??? If you smell a foul odor that smells like rotten eggs then you may very well have a gas leak. What do you do? You should open all windows & doors immediately & leave the home. Do NOT use the computer, landline (home telephone) or turn anything on or off because this could cause a spark that may ignite the gas leak. Call 9-1-1 when you leave the home. Visit www.safegas.org for great gas tips.