Develop a Safety Checklist for your Family

  • Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Keep ABC multipurpose fire extinguishers charged and ready to use (Know how to operate them properly).
  • Make sure every family member knows how to escape from the house by crawling low in smoke.
  • Hold regular fire drills.
  • Designate two exits from each room and a safe meeting place outside your home.
  • If a fire breaks out, get out fast and call the fire department from a neighbor’s home.
  • If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll to extinguish the flames.
  • Never go back into a burning building for any reason.
  • Have a meeting place!

Safety Tips for the Home

Home Cooking

Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Maintain constant watch when preparing food.
Use a low flame to guard against overheated grease and overflows.
Always turn pot handles toward the center of the stove.
Keep your stove and oven clean.
Be careful when touching foods or liquids heated in the microwave.
Place towels, napkins and potholders away from the stove.
Set your hot water heater to 120 F to prevent scalds.

Electrical

Purchase UL-approved or safety-tested appliances.
Plug only one appliance into an outlet or extension cord.
Unplug appliances after use.
When unplugging an appliance, grasp the plug firmly and pull straight out.
Allow appliances to thoroughly cool before storing.
Give large appliances their own heavy-duty electrical circuit.
Use only safety-tested extension cords or multiple adapters with built in circuit breakers.
Provide appliances with adequate air circulation.
Keep appliances away from water, and have them professionally serviced if they get wet.
Replace broken plugs or frayed and worn cords immediately.
Call a licensed electrician if you experience frequently blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers, flickering lights, or a shrinking television picture. All are signs of faulty or inadequate wiring.
Supervise children when using appliances.

Heating Systems

Provide all home heating devices with at least 3 feet of clear space, away from beds, drapes, furniture and other combustible materials.
To ensure proper ventilation when heating your home, keep a door or window slightly open.
Check local building codes for regulations regarding uses of home heating system.

Gas Heaters

Inspect gas heaters monthly during the year and weekly during the winter months.
Examine gas lines for punctures or splits.
Check the connectors and valves for leaks.

Electrical Heaters

Place electrical heaters far away from water sources.
Check wires and fuses for damage and have repaired immediately.
Make sure your home’s wiring is sufficient to handle the heater’s needs.

Kerosene Heaters

Use only water-clear grade K – 1 kerosene.
Always refuel outside the home and only after heater has cooled.
Store kerosene in approved and properly labeled containers away from heat and direct sunlight.

Wood Stoves & Fireplaces

Have chimneys and fireplaces cleaned regularly.
Top your chimney with a spark guard.
Keep the damper open when in use.
Use a glass screen large enough to cover the opening.
Burn dry, well-seasoned hardwood because it’s the most efficient fuel.
Dispose of cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container.

Smoking

Use large, heavy ashtrays that won’t tip over.
Extinguish cigars, cigarettes and tobacco completely.
Empty used ashtrays only after the contents have cooled.
Check wastebaskets and furniture for smoldering cigarettes.
Keep smoking materials away from the bedroom area.
Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
Refrain form smoking when sleepy or under the influence of alcohol or medication.