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Submitted by: Lorrie Streeter
Each year there are many residential fires resulting in the loss of life and damage to property. The majority of fires are caused by incidents of smoking, cooking, children playing and the deliberate setting of fires. Most of them could have been prevented if proper precautions had been taken.
A few important and easy steps can be taken to prevent the majority of fires or to contain the damage to a minimum when a fire occurs.
Smoking:
use large ashtrays to eliminate ashes
check in and around furniture for dropped butts
dampen and dispose of butts into large tin cans as quickly as possible
do not smoke lying down or when drinking alcohol as drowsiness may occur
keep cigarettes, cigars, matches etc. out of reach of children
safely dispose of old matches and lighters
Cooking
never leave cooking unattended turn off the burner when leaving or answering the phone
don t cook while drinking alcohol or on medication that can cause drowsiness
wear tight fitting clothes when cooking
always use oven mitts when handing hot pots and pans no dish towels please
never put flammable towels, mitts, etc. on the stove
never use the oven as storage space
keep pot handles turned in to prevent bumping or children grabbing them
heat cooking oil slowly while supervising carefully
if a pot catches on fire put a lid on it and turn off the stove do not attempt to move the pot
call 911 if the flames do not go out
Children Playing
keep matches, lighters and smoking materials out of sight and reach of small children
teach older children the responsible and safe way to use matches or lighters
teach children not to play with the stove or other electrical heating elements
never leave lighted candles unattended or in reach of small children
Other Fire Hazard Precautions
have the fireplace chimney swept by a professional every spring
use extension cords with circuit breakers never overload a circuit breaker
do not have electrical cords under carpets or hung from hooks
consider having your electrical panel inspected regularly by a master electrician
Deliberately Set Fires
have a quality security system in your home
have good lighting around your home and yard
when away have a someone monitor your home regularly
make sure your home always appears lived in
keep your home, garage and yard clear of rubbish and combustible items
If a fire does occur in your home:
get down on hands and knees and crawl out stay below the smoke
keep doors and windows closed
if clothes catch fire STOP, DROP AND ROLL to smother the flames
use a damp towel or cloth to protect exposed skin and/or cover nose and mouth to facilitate breathing
get out and stay out – call the fire department from outside
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!! Some things to keep in mind include:
plan and regularly practice a fire escape plan including an area to meet family members if you should get separated
have an emergency survival kit within easy reach if you need to evacuate your home in the trunk of your vehicle is also a good place
always sleep with bedroom doors closed this provides some protection against fire
keep at least one fire extinguisher within easy reach on each level of your home – know how to use it
keep doors and windows clear of obstructions for safe, easy exit
install a smoke detector on every level of your home one close to bedroom doors
test your battery and electric smoke alarms each month
carefully clean your alarms every 6 months
charge the alarm battery at least once a year twice is better
replace old alarms that no longer work
if alarms go off regularly for no apparent reason, consider moving them to a different area away from direct heat sources
Be Prepared Before Disaster Strikes!
About the Author: Lorrie Streeter has been involved in emergency preparedness for over 25 years. She also writes for the site
SurvivalStreet.com
, which offers 72-hour survival kits, emergency food and water.
Source:
isnare.com
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