Is your cozy home a fire hazard?
With the chill in the air, many of us are retreating into our homes with a bundle of blankets, a stack of firewood and a variety of scented candles. While you prepare for cold weather, help keep your home protected from common fire hazards with these simple safety tips:
Keep fire extinguishers close at hand. Put extinguishers in convenient locations on every level of the home, and in the kitchen and garage for use in small emergencies. Also, ensure that you know how to use them.
Candle with care. When burning candles, never leave them unattended and place them out of reach from children. Make it a routine to check that all flames are extinguished before you go to bed. Keep candles at least 30 centimetres from anything flammable.
Be cautious with décor. Items like twig wreaths and burlap mantle place runners add rustic style, but that doesn’t mean they won’t catch fire. Place flammable decorations away from heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles.
Pull the plug on lighting dangers. A report from the National Fire Protection Association revealed that nearly two-thirds of fires involving decorative lights are due to electrical failures or malfunctions. Check light strings for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Also, avoid plugging too many lights into an outlet; overloaded circuits can overheat and start a fire.
Get properly protected. Correct smoke alarm placement, regular maintenance and alarm replacement are essential to preventing fire disasters all year long. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, inside every bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test alarms every month and change batteries every six months. For hasslefree protection, consider an alarm which features a sealed 10-year.