Every year, fire causes millions of dollars of damage to household goods, property, and sentimental items. Following these guidelines can help you protect your home against that damage. The list has simple things you can change in your home to make you rest easier.
Kitchen safety:
- Never leave the room if you have food or oil cooking on the stove.
- After cooking, always be sure that the oven and stove top burners are completely turned off before sitting down to eat or leaving the room.
- Don’t leave dishcloths or oven mitts on top of the range, they could easily catch fire, even if you turn your back for only a second.
- Never store cans or jars of grease on the stove top, they can spill and catch fire.
Garage Safety:
- Always be sure to put the cap snugly back on to any chemicals that you store in your garage or a closed cabinet. This includes cleaners, oils, and liquid fertilizers. Fumes can mix and ignite themselves.
- Be especially careful when storing gasoline, camp stove fuel, and kerosene. These are highly flammable chemicals that can potentially cause an explosion. Make sure they are securely capped and cannot be tipped over in the storage unit where you keep them.
- Replace frayed power tool cords when they become crimped — don’t wait until the wires are exposed. FIres can occur even while the insulating covering is still covering the bent areas.
General Safety Tips:
- Do not store newspapers or magazines near the fireplace or the water heater. Sparks can fly onto them and start a fire.
- Do not use radios, hair dryers, or television sets near the sink or bathtub when showering or washing your face. If an electrical appliance falls into the water with a person’s body, electrocution can occur and possibly be fatal.
- Do not leave candles unattended. If you leave the room, put out the flame. You can always light it again when you return. Always put out the flame before going to sleepas well.
- Remove dryer lint after every load. Lint can ignite if it becomes overheated or blocks the vent.
- Vacuum electrical outlets once a month to keep them dust-free.
Installing an inexpensive smoke detector can also help prevent costly damage due to fire. Remember to check the battery once a month; if the batteriers are dead, it doesn’t help to have a smoke detector.
Watch small children carefully and keep matches and lighters out of reach. Explain to your children that playing with matches is very dangerous and that only adults should use them.
It is wise to map out an escape plan with your family in case a fire occurs. Set up practice drills and use a stopwatch to “time” how long it takes to get all members out of the house, including pets. Set up a place outside that everyone will meet so you can be sure they all got out safely.
Walk through your home today and see how many of these hazards are present and correct them immediately. Taking steps now could save your life tomorrow.
