Of course, the best way to practice fire
safety is to make sure a fire doesn't break out in the first place.
That means you
should always be aware of potential hazards in your home. Start by keeping these
tips in mind.
Check all electrical appliances, cords,
and outlets
Are your electrical appliances in good condition, without
loose or frayed cords or plugs?
Are your outlets overloaded with plugs from the TV,
computer, printer, video game system, and stereo?
Are you overusing an extension cord?
Do the light fixtures in your home contain bulbs that are
the correct wattage?
Does your home contain GFCIs (ground-fault circuit
interrupters) and/or AFCIs (arc-fault circuit interrupters),
which
prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty
circuits?
Look around your house for potential problems. And unless
you're a trained electrician, be careful about do-it-yourself
electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires are caused by improper
installation of electrical devices.
Other tips:
Replace or professionally repair any appliances that spark,
smell unusual, or overheat.
Don't run electrical wires under rugs.
Make sure lamps and night-lights are not touching
bedspreads, drapes, or other fabrics.
Use caution when using electric blankets.
Don't let kids use kitchen appliances by themselves and
supervise any art or science projects that involve electrical
devices that are not in use with plastic safety
covers if you have toddlers or young children in your home.
Be especially vigilant about portable
heaters
The number of residential fires always goes up during
colder months, peaking between December and February. Portable
space
heaters substantially contribute to this increase. Before plugging in your space
heater, make sure you know how to
use it safely:
Carefully read the directions for its use.
Never place a space heater where a child or pet could
accidentally knock it over.
Never place a space heater too close to a bed, especially a
child's bed.
Keep newspapers, magazines, and fabrics from curtains,
clothes, or bedding away from space heaters, radiators, and
fireplaces.
Heaters should be at least 3 feet from anything flammable.
Be careful in the kitchen
Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home
fires in the United States? The kitchen is rife with ways for a fire
to
start: food left unsupervised on a stove or in an oven or microwave; grease spills; a
dish towel too close to the burner; a
toaster or toaster oven
flare-up; a coffee pot accidentally left on. Always supervise your child while
cooking, and make
sure to practice safe cooking habits — like
turning all pot handles in so they can't be accidentally knocked over and not
wearing
loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire around the stove.
Check out the fireplace
Fireplaces should be kept clean and covered with a screen
to keep sparks from jumping out. Only wood should be burned
in the
fireplace — paper and other materials can escape while burning and ignite nearby
items. Never leave a fire burning
unattended, and make sure a fire
is completely extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed. Have
the chimney
professionally cleaned once a year.
Beware of cigarettes
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA),
cigarettes are the No. 1 cause of fire deaths in the United
States
and Canada, killing about 1,000 people per year. Most are started when ashes
or butts fall into couches and chairs.
If you smoke, be especially careful around upholstered furniture, never smoke in bed, and be sure
cigarettes are completely
out before you toss them into the trash.
Never let your child play with matches and
lighters
You've heard it again and again, but children playing with
matches are still the leading cause of fire-related deaths and
injuries for kids younger than 5. Always keep matches and lighters out of children's reach. Store
flammable materials such
as gasoline, kerosene, and flammable
cleaning supplies outside of your home and away from children.
Use candles safely
As decorative candles become more popular, candle fires
are on the rise. If you light candles, keep them out of reach of
kids and pets, away from curtains and furniture, and extinguish them before you go to bed.
Make sure candles are in sturdy
holders made of non-flammable
material that won't tip over. Don't let older kids and teens use candles
unsupervised in their
rooms.
Be aware of holiday dangers
Around the holidays, there are even more potential fire
hazards to think about. If you use a real Christmas tree in your
home,
make sure to water it daily — electric lights strung on a dried-out tree are a recipe for
disaster. All lights and lighted window
ornaments should be
inspected every year to make sure that cords are not worn or frayed, and all candles should be
used
with care. According to the NFPA, the number of fires started
by
candles nearly doubles during the month of December.
