The Roof is On Fire (Ways to Prevent a Fire in The Home)
Posted by: / Category: Apartment Maintenance, Home ApplianceLosing your home to a fire can be one of the most devastating tragedies ever experienced. Your personal belongings and possibly your children and pets can be lost in such an event. It is important to be conscious of this possibility at all times whether you are at home or you have left the premises. There are many basic ways to prevent a fire.
• SMOKE-DETECTORS are a reasonable way to keep yourself and your family safe. If at all possible, it is good to have those detectors installed by a service that involves around-the-clock notifications to hospitals, police and local fire departments. This is the one way to have your home looked after a while you are shopping or on vacation. Services are reasonably priced and provide you with peace of mind as well.
• Hire a PROFESSIONAL-ELECTRICIAN to check out your house for any defects in your electrical system and/or appliances. Never attempt to wire your own home unless you are an electrician.
• NEVER-DRINK-ALCOHOL, use SLEEPING-PILLS or other DRUGS and then smoke or cook. Falling asleep and creating conditions ripe for a fire are always a risk at these moments. Make certain that you have a conscious intent not to do these things before you begin drinking.
• Make certain that you have one FIRE EXTINGUISHER for each floor of your home. Advise your family concerning location and how to use them. Place a short typed list of how to operate on a paper securely taped to the side of the extinguisher as memories can fail during a fire.
• Have your FURNACE and AIR-CONDITIONER(S) checked yearly. Always be sure to change/clean filters frequently during the season.
• A WOOD-BURNING-FIREPLACE needs proper maintenance. It is important to know which wood to burn so that creosote and other resins do not build up in the chimney. Glass doors are a preferred way to prevent embers from popping out from the fire and onto the carpet. When cleaning out the fireplace make certain it is ‘cold’ and place the ash in a metal container outdoors. GAS-LOGS need to be cleaned yearly and fully tested before cold weather begins.
• DO NOT use extension cords with heavy appliances. When at all possible do not use oil lamps or candles. Have a number of working flashlights on hand for emergencies.
• CREATE a mental CHECKLIST of things to do when leaving your home for a period of time such as set thermostats, check the stove and etc.
Most of all use your own creativity to add to the list. Your home is unique and there are many things that you realize need to be done to prevent fires in your particular situation.