One thing we love about fall and winter is being warm and cozy in our homes. However, as we transition into colder months, remember that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Oct. 3-9 is Fire Prevention Week, and we want to support our first responders by sharing information to keep everyone safe. Here are 10 fire safety tips to get you through this winter.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom, outside of each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test the alarms at least once a month.
- Turn off portable heaters before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment (furnaces, fireplaces, stoves or portable space heaters).
- Keep at least one fire extinguisher on every level of your home.
- Only use one heat-producing appliance, such as a coffee maker, toaster or space heater, plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
- Have a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared.
- When fighting a small fire, such as a grease fire, if you have any doubt, just get out!
- Stay in the kitchen while using the stove, and keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
- Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn, and always blow them out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Never leave a child alone with burning candles. Keep lighters and matches up high and out of a child’s reach, preferably locked in a cabinet.
Did You Know?
- The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, mostly involving the stove.
- Half of home-heating fires are reported in December, January and February.
- Approximately three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
- More than one-third of candle fires start in the bedroom.
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