Bedroom
Safety
Appliances Need Special Attention
Bedrooms are the most common room in the home where electrical fires
start. Electrical fires are a special concern during winter months which
call for more indoor activities and increases in lighting, heating, and
appliance use.
- Do not trap electric cords against walls where heat can build up.
- Take extra care when using portable heaters. Keep bedding, clothes,
curtains and other combustible items at least three feet away from space
heaters.
- Only use lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make
sure the cords are not frayed.
Tuck Yourself In For A Safe Sleep
- Never smoke in bed.
- Replace mattresses made before the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability
Standard. Mattresses made since then are required by law to be safer.
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Candle
Safety
Safety Tips:
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room
or going to sleep.
- Keep candles away from items that can catch
fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable
decorations).
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip
over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large
enough to collect dripping wax.
- Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds
and curtains can close over them.
- Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered
surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked
over by children or pets.
- Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable
liquids.
- Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch
and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two
inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers
should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
- Avoid candles with combustible items embedded
in them.
Candles & children:
- Keep candles up high out of reach of children.
- Never leave a child unattended in a room with
a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
- Don't allow children or teens to have candles
in their bedrooms.
- Store candles, matches and lighters up high
and out children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
During power outages:
- Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. Don't use
a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space.
- Never use a candle for a light when checking
pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern.
The flame may ignite the fumes.
Candle Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Children
and Fire
Every day Americans experience the tragedy of fire. Each year more than
4,000 Americans die in fires and approximately 25,000 are injured. Figures
show that each year about 300 people are killed and $272 million in
property is destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages parents to teach
children at an early age about the dangers of fireplay in an effort to
prevent child injuries, fire deaths and firesetting behavior in the future.
Below are some facts about children and fire safety.
Curious Kids Set Fires
Children under five are curious about fire. Often what begins as a natural
exploration of the unknown can lead to tragedy.
- Children of all ages set over 100,000 fires annually. Approximately
20,000 of those fires are set in homes.
- Children make up 20% of all fire deaths.
- Over 30% of the fires that kill children are set by children playing
with fire.
- At home, children usually play with fire in bedrooms, in closets and
under beds. These are "secret" places where there are a lot
of things that catch fire easily.
- Too often, child firesetters are not given proper guidance and supervision
by parents and teachers. Consequently, they repeat their firesetting
behavior.
Practice Fire Safety in Your Home
- Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for
short periods of time.
- Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
- Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
- Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence your
child may be playing with fire.
- Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and
designate a meeting place outside.
- Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is
a tool, not a toy.
- Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY!
- Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly
and call for help from another location.
- Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get
out of the house and stay out in the case of fire.
- Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes
catch fire.
- Install smoke alarms on every level in your home.
- Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
- Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once
a year.
- Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended by the
manufacturer.
Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances
of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently
with your family.
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Christmas Tree Safety
Safety Tips:
- When decorating Christmas trees, always use safe tree lights. (Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.) Larger tree lights should also have some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb and all lights should be listed by a testing laboratory.
- Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
- Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
- Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches.
- Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
- Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
- Children are fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye on them when around the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights.
- Store matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
- Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
Cooking Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Cooking
Safety
Safety Tips:
- Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing
facility.
- Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close
eye on food cooking inside the oven.
- Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders,
towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).
- Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot
(one-meter) "kid–free zone" around the stove.
- Turn pot handles inward so they can't be bumped and children can't
grab them.
- Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.
- Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture
in the mitt is heated.
- Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small grease
fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by
carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove
the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire
and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray
or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire.
- If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed
to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.
- If there is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the
microwave. Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced
before you use it again. Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously
hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully
to prevent steam burns.
Cooking Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Dryer
Safety
Safety Tips:
- Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter. Clean lint filters
before or after each use and remove accumulated lint from around the
drum.
- Make sure that the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its
electrical needs as overloaded electrical outlets can result in blown
fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
- Turn the dryer off when leaving the home.
- Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles (i.e., boxes or clothing).
- Dryers should be installed and serviced by a professional.
- Have gas-powered dryers inspected by a professional regularly to ensure
that the gas line and connection are intact.
Dryer Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Electrical
Safety
Safety Tips:
Prevent Electrical Problems
Studies of electrical fires in homes show that many problems are associated
with improper installation of electrical devices by do-it-yourselfers.
Common errors that can lead to fires include the use of improperly rated
devices such as switches or receptacles and loose connections at these
devices. Both can lead to overheating and arcing that can start fires.
Fires are still caused by people using the wrong size fuse or even putting
a penny behind a fuse when they don't have a spare. These practices are
very dangerous. The fuse is a safety device designed to limit the electricity
carried by the circuit to a safe level. Electricity and water are a bad
combination. All electrical devices installed outdoors should be specially
designed for outdoor use. Outdoor receptacles as well as those in kitchens,
bathrooms, and anywhere else near water should be the ground fault circuit
interrupting type (GFCI).
Use Electrical Devices Safely
Light bulbs, especially the newer halogen types, get very hot and can
ignite combustible materials that get too close. Clothing or towels should
never be placed atop a lampshade and table lamps should not be used without
a shade where they might fall over onto a bed or sofa. Most light fixtures
are labeled to show the brightest bulb that can be safely used in that
fixture; too high a wattage bulb can cause the fixture to overheat and
start a fire. Extension cords are a common cause of electrical fires.
You must be careful to use only extension cords that are rated for the
power used by the device they are powering. Extension cords should never
be used as a long term solution to the need for another receptacle. Extension
cords must never be run inside walls or under rugs or furniture. Extension
cords can get warm in use and must be able to dissipate this heat or they
can start a fire.
Maintain Electrical Safely
The insulation on electrical cords can become damaged by wear, flexing,
or age. Do not use any cord that is stiff or cracked. Some clues that
you may have an electrical problem are :
- 1. Flickering lights. If the lights dim every time you turn on an
appliance, that circuit is overloaded or has a loose connection.
- 2. Sparks. If sparks appear when you insert or remove a plug, they
could be a sign of loose connections.
- 3. Warm electrical cord. If an electrical cord is warm to the touch,
the cord is underrated or defective.
- 4. Frequent blown fuses or broken circuits. A fuse or circuit breaker
that keeps tripping is an important warning sign of problems.
- 5. Frequent bulb burnout. A light bulb that burns out frequently is
a sign that the bulb is too high a wattage for the fixture.
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Gasoline
Safety
Safety Tips:
- Keep gasoline out of children's sight and reach. Children should never
handle gasoline.
- If fire does start while handling gasoline, do not attempt to extinguish
the fire or stop the flow of gasoline. Leave the area immediately, and
call for help.
- Do not use or store gasoline near possible ignition sources (i.e.,
electrical devices, oil- or gas-fired appliances, or any other device
that contains a pilot flame or a spark).
- Store gasoline outside the home (i.e., in a garage or lawn shed) in
a tightly closed metal or plastic container approved by an independent
testing laboratory or the local or state fire authorities. Never store
gasoline in glass containers or non-reusable plastic containers (i.e.,
milk jugs).
- Store only enough gasoline necessary to power equipment and let machinery
cool before refueling it.
- Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.
- Clean up spills promptly and discard clean-up materials properly.
- Do not smoke when handling gasoline.
- Never use gasoline in place of kerosene.
- Use caution when fueling automobiles. Do not get in and out of the
automobile when fueling. Although rare, an electrical charge on your
body could spark a fire, especially during the dry winter months.
- Only fill portable gasoline containers outdoors. Place the container
on the ground before filling and never fill containers inside a vehicle
or in the bed of a pick-up truck.
- Follow all manufacturers instructions when using electronic devices
(those with batteries or connected to an electrical outlet) near gasoline.
- For more information on gasoline safety, visit the American
Petroleum Institute
and the Petroleum
Equipment Institute Web sites.
Gasoline Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Grilling Safety
Safety Tips:
- Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas and foot traffic.
- Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "safe zone" around the grill..
- Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when flipping burgers.
- Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.
- If you have a charcoal grill, purchase the proper starter fluid and store the can out of reach of children, and away from heat sources.
- If you have a propane grill, check the propane cylinder hose for leaks before using it. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will quickly reveal escaping propane by releasing bubbles. Have leaking fuel lines repaired before using.
- All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overfill
protection devices (OPD). OPDs shut off the flow of propane
before capacity is reached, limiting the potential for release of propane
gas if the cylinder heats up. OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped
hand wheel.
You go grill!
- If you are using fluid to start a charcoal grill, use only fluid intended for this purpose. It is extremely dangerous to substitute any other combustible liquid to start the coals. This is especially true for gasoline, which can be ignited explosively by even a tiny spark.
- Apply starter fluid directly to the coals, then reseal and put away the can. Light the coals carefully, avoiding the flame flare-up. Store the can out of reach of children and away from heat sources.
- When you've finished cooking, keep an eye on the grill until it has completely cooled. Charcoal can be soaked with water to speed the cooling process, but use extreme caution to avoid the steam and splatters, which can cause burns.
A final word about cookouts: Propane and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces, such as tents, they pose both a fire hazard and the risk of exposing occupants to toxic gases and potential asphyxiation.
Grilling Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Halloween Safety
Safety Tips:
- Purchase only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. When creating a costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Avoid billowing or long trailing features.
- Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters, etc.
- Use extreme caution when decorating with candles, and supervise children at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside Jack-O-Lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches and be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from all combustible items. Pumpkins can also be illuminated with small, inexpensive flashlights.
- Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, ensuring nothing blocks escape routes.
- Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
- Instruct children to stay away from open flames or other heat sources. Be sure children know how to stop, drop and roll in the event their clothing catches fire. (Stop immediately, drop to the ground, covering your face with your hands, and roll over and over to extinguish flames.)
- Instruct children who are attending parties at others' homes to locate the exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.
- Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume.
Halloween Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Holiday Safety
Safety Tips:
Holiday decorating & lighting
- Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
- Keep candles
away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use
candles to decorate
Christmas trees.
- Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.
- Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Do not overload extension cords.
- Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.
- Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation (i.e., using clips, not nails).
- Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
- Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.
Holiday entertaining
- Unattended cooking
is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday
visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
- Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding, or flush them down the toilet.
- After a party, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
- Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet). When smokers visit your home, ask them to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
- Test your smoke alarms, and let guests know what your fire
escape plan is.
Holiday Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Home Heating Safety
Safety Tips:
- When buying a new unit, make sure that a qualified technician installs the unit or checks that the unit has been installed properly.
- For wood or coal stoves or fireplaces, have a professional inspect the chimney, chimney connector and other related equipment every year, and have them cleaned as often as the inspections indicate.
- Keep space heaters at least three feet (or one meter) away from anything that can burn.
- Fuel portable kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated area away from flames or other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer, and never use gasoline. Use only if such heaters are legal in your community.
- When turning a heating device on or off, follow the manufacturer's instructions. When buying heaters, choose devices with automatic shut-off features.
- Make sure any gas-fueled heating device is adequately ventilated. Unventilated gas space heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms must be small and well-mounted. Never use liquefied-petroleum gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies in the home.
- Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave a room or go to bed.
Home Heating Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Propane Safety
Safety Tips:
- Handle any propane-powered equipment cautiously and always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Cylinder tanks for equipment such as stoves and ovens must be located outside of the home.
- Never store or use propane gas cylinders larger than one pound inside the home.
- Never operate a propane-powered gas grill inside the home.
- Have propane gas equipment inspected periodically by a professional for possible leaks or malfunctioning parts.
- Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions when lighting a pilot.
- If you smell a strong odor of gas, leave the area immediately and call the fire department from outside the home.
- For more
information visit, the Propane
Education and Research Council Web site.
Propane Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Smoking Material Related Fires
Safety Tips:
- Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn (i.e., mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.).
- Never smoke in bed or when you are drowsy, intoxicated or medicated.
- Use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays to prevent ashes from spilling onto furniture and check them frequently. Do not rest ashtrays on sofas or chairs.
- Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away as they can smolder in the trash and cause a fire.
- Whenever someone has been smoking in the home, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for butts that may be smoldering.
- When smokers visit your home, ask them to keep smoking materials, lighters and matches with them so young children do not touch them.
- Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach (preferably in a locked cabinet).
Smoking Material Related Fire Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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Summer Safety
Safety Tips:
Scooter, bike and pedestrian safety
Scooters, bikes, in-line skates and skateboards are associated with numerous injuries yearly.
- Wear a comfortable, properly fitted helmet bearing the label of an independent testing lab. Be sure that the helmet sits level on top of the head not rocking in any direction and always fasten the safety strap.
- Be sure that safety gear (wrist, elbow and kneepads) fits properly and does not interfere with the rider's movement, vision or hearing. Wrist pads are not recommended for scooter riders as they may affect their ability to maneuver.
- Ride scooters and bikes only on smooth, paved surfaces and only ride during daylight hours.
- Learn the proper hand signals and use them when you turn or stop.
- Come to a complete stop before entering driveways, paths or sidewalks, then look left, right and left again for bikes, cars or pedestrians heading your way.
- Teach crossing safety to children by example
Barbecue safety
Beware when you barbecue. In 1999 alone, gas and charcoal grills caused 1,500 structure fires and 4,200 outdoor fires in or on home properties, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $29.8 million, according to NFPA.
- When using barbecue grills on decks or patios, be sure to leave sufficient space from siding and eaves.
- Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.
- Keep children and pets far away from grills.
- With charcoal grills, only use charcoal starter fluids designed for barbecue grills and do not add fluid after coals have been lit.
- With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection is tight and check hoses carefully for leaks. Applying soapy water to the hoses will easily and safely reveal any leaks.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and have the grill repaired by a professional, if necessary.
Water Safety
Extra caution should be used when around water, for children and adults.
- Only swim in approved areas.
- Always supervise children near water at all times and make sure that children learn to swim.
- Check the depth of the water with a lifeguard before jumping in.
- Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD (personal floatation device) when boating, jet-skiing, tubing or water-skiing. Air-filled swimming aids, like water wings or inner tubes, are not substitutes for approved PFDs. An adult should always supervise children using these devices.
- Be sure to extinguish all smoking materials and shut down motors, fans and heating devices before fueling a boat. In case of a spill, wipe up fuel immediately and check the bilge for fuel leakage and odors. After fueling and before starting the boat's motor, ventilate with the blower for at least four minutes
Camping Safety Tips
- Always use a flame retardant tent and set up camp far away from the campfire.
- Only use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns inside the tent or any other closed space, not liquid-filled heaters or lanterns.
- Always build your campfire down wind away from your tent. Clear all vegetation and dig a pit surrounded by rocks before building your campfire.
- Store liquid fire starter (not gasoline) away from your tent and campfire and only use dry kindling to freshen a campfire.
- Always put out a campfire when going to sleep or leaving the campsite. To extinguish the fire, cover with dirt or pour water over it
Fireworks
Fireworks lead to thousands of injuries requiring emergency room treatment, according to NFPA. These dazzling, but dangerous devices can burn up to 1200 F and can cause burns, lacerations, amputations and blindness. Stay safe by always leaving fireworks to professionals.
- Stay back at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
- Treat all fireworks, whether legal or illegal for consumers, as suitable only for use by trained professionals.
- If you find fireworks, do not touch them but instead direct authorities to them.
- Leave any area where amateurs are using fireworks.
Summer Safety Section
Reprinted from the Nation Fire Protection Agency 6/3/04
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