Fire! This is a word that sends chills up your spine and is frightening to hear whether you are at home, work or staying at a hotel. Since October is Fire Safety Month, the following tips are timely.
Over 4,000 deaths each year are caused as a result of household fires. This is a frightening statistic. Recognizing how they start is the first step anyone can take in protecting themselves and their family from being involved in a life-threatening situation. Taking a survey of your home or apartment to make sure general conditions are safe and in good repair is a simple first start. Don’t forget to check the residence of any elderly relatives, too.
Your home's electrical system is designed to safely carry a specific load of electricity. If that total is surpassed, fuses or circuit breakers will open and shut the current off. Don't try to increase the maximum load by replacing burnt out fuses with ones allowing a higher current level. If a fuse is not the right size, don't use it. Never place anything other than a fuse in a fuse holder. When you find that you are frequently replacing fuses or resetting circuit breakers, check the main electrical box to see what section of the house they serve.
You can reduce the amount of electricity used in those areas by unplugging a few appliances or moving them to another room. If this doesn't help then have a professional electrician inspect the system to determine why it is over loading. How often have you found that the cord on an appliance is too short to reach the outlet? Perhaps the outlet is situated behind a sofa or in a far corner of the room. When an appliance won't reach a wall outlet, extension cords are a common solution. But they are not meant to be permanent fixtures. If you need more outlets, have them installed by a qualified professional. Never run electrical cords under carpets or secure them with nails or staples.
A few years back my work office, located in a large town owned building, invited tenants to a fire safety meeting conducted by the town’s Fire Department Chief. Besides a long list of safety measures, he detailed for both work and at home, he shared an interesting fact about home fires. He related that a large percentage of home fires are caused by home dryers! He said never leave the house with the drying running, which was something I often did. He reminded the audience to be sure to empty the lint trap on your dryer after each use. The reason not to leave the house with the drying going is because it could overheat and cause a fire. Household fires can start in a number of ways. For example, flammable liquids including gasoline, kerosene, and paint thinner, can be extremely dangerous and should never be stored near sources of heat, especially near furnaces, water heaters or other gas appliances. Use plastic or metal storage containers, not breakable glass, and keep the lids tightly sealed to prevent flammable vapors from escaping. Town held household cleanup time is perfect for using a checklist and inspecting your basement, garage and attic for any of these signs of potential chemical danger. Be sure to check with your town’s recycle center to see what chemicals are accepted or where they can be brought for disposal if that facility does not handle them.
In the event of a fire, smoke detectors can save your life. It is difficult for me to imagine why every home does not have several of these reasonably priced items in place. Also add a carbon monoxide detector around the house, too. For maximum protection, place a smoke alarm on every floor and outside each bedroom. Test each detector a least once a month, and replace the batteries at least twice a year. Note: A good way to remember when to change these batteries is to do it when we turn the clocks back and ahead, twice a year.
Or another easy reminder is to pick your birthday or special family occasion as a date to make the battery change. Don't forget about the vents on the smoke detector when you vacuum or dust. Grease, dust and dirt can build up on the vents and cause a malfunction if not cleaned regularly. It only takes a few minutes to take care of equipping your smoke detector with fresh batteries. Also check the dates on any household fire extinguishers you may have in the kitchen or basement area. Make sure each family members know where they are and how to use them for small fires on the stove. Doing these checks will be the best minutes you'll ever invest to protect yourself, your family and valuable possessions. One last extremely important reminder is to share with your children about what to do in case of a house fire and the need to evacuate the house.
Impress upon them, especially younger children, not to worry about taking a beloved doll or stuffed animal as those items can be replaced. Plan a place outside of the house, a safe distance away from any falling debris, where the family should meet in case of a fire and evacuating the house.
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