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How
to make your house fire-safe
According
to the National Fire Protection Association, there were an estimated
406,500 residential fires in 1997 - resulting in 3,390 fatalities and
estimated property losses of more than $4.5 billion.* Some other NFPA
findings: Accidents related to cooking continue to ignite more residential
fires than any other known cause... and careless smoking continues to
be the leading cause of death. Many of these fires probably could have
been prevented with proper education, preventive measures and a little
planning. Use the following simple home-fire safety checklist to prevent
your family and home from becoming a startling statistic.
Smoke
Detectors
| • |
Install
at least one smoke detector on every level, near bedrooms, and in
the garage. |
| • |
Test
batteries monthly and replace them annually -- change batteries
when you turn the clocks back in the fall, this way you're sure
to remember! |
| • |
Clean
your detector of dust and cobwebs once a month to ensure it's in
proper working condition. |
Safe
Cooking
| • |
Take
care to prevent grease build-up in the stove or range hood -- most
kitchen fires involve oil or grease. |
| • |
Use
a pan or skillet lid to smother grease fires. NEVER use water --
it causes ignited oil to splatter. |
| • |
Wear
fitted clothing when cooking. Long, draping sleeves can catch fire
simply by brushing against a hot burner. |
| • |
Teach
children not to play around the stove, and never leave a
stove unattended. |
| • |
Keep
flammable items such as towels and curtains away from the stove. |
| • |
Keep
a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it. |
Fire-Escape
Drills
| • |
Plan
and practice a fire escape route from every room. |
| • |
Use
rope or chain ladders from second-story windows. |
| • |
Teach
children how to open windows and climb to safety and not to hide
from firefighters. |
| • |
Establish
an outside meeting place. |
| • |
Know
how to call for emergency assistance. |
| • |
Practice
your family fire drill at least twice a year. |
Using
Your Escape Plan
| • |
Crawl
low and keep your mouth covered if you must escape under smoke. |
| • |
Feel
closed doors with the back of your hand. If not hot, slowly open
the door and check for smoke and fire. If hot, use another exit. |
| • |
Stop
where you are, drop, cover your face with your hands, and roll to
smother flames if your clothes ignite. |
| • |
Go
to the pre-determined meeting place outside and call for help. |
| • |
Never
return to a burning building. |
Safe
Smoking Habits
| • |
Use
child-resistant lighters. |
| • |
Keep
matches and lighters out of reach of children. |
| • |
Never
smoke in bed. |
Electricity
| • |
Use
safety plugs in electrical outlets, especially if you have small
children. |
| • |
Avoid
overloading outlets and running cords under carpets and furniture. |
| • |
Replace
cords that are cracked or frayed. |
| • |
Use
proper-sized fuses in the fuse box. |
Portable
Heaters
| • |
Keep
heaters at least three feet from anything flammable. |
| • |
Turn
off heaters when leaving the house or going to sleep. |
| • |
Plug
heaters directly into wall outlets. |
| • |
Keep
children and pets away from all heating appliances. |
*Most
recent data published by the National Fire Protection Association.
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