 Fires and resulting burn injuries are the third most common cause of accidental death at home, with over 3,400 deaths reported each year. Though unforeseen events can occur, fires are largely preventable if you and your family stay alert to potential hazards. Follow these safety tips to keep your home free of fire.
- Early detection: Install a smoke detector in each room of your home; batteries should be manually tested every three to six months (the chirping can be unreliable if it occurs while you’re away) and units must be replaced every ten years. You may also choose to install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor to alert you to the presence of toxic gas. Keep a fire extinguisher in a central location on each floor and in the kitchen.
- Kitchen safety: Cooking, particularly on the stove, is the year-round leading cause of home fires. With today’s over-scheduled lifestyle, it’s easy to start cooking dinner and get distracted by something else more pressing. This dangerous behavior should be stopped. Whenever something is cooking on your stove, give it your full attention. Turn pan handles inward to prevent accidental tipping and enforce a rule that children are not allowed to come with three feet of a heated stove.
- Heating devices: Portable heaters overcome cooking fires during wintertime as the most common cause of home fires. These devices can easily come in contact with flammable objects if not positioned carefully. To reduce the risk, place space heaters in a spot where they have a three-foot diameter of clear space. Purchase models that automatically turn off when tipped over for added safety. Always be sure to turn all portable heaters off when sleeping, leaving the room or away from home.
- Heating systems: Your central heating system and fireplace/chimney should be professionally inspected, serviced and/or cleaned at the beginning of each winter season. This will ensure proper, efficient usage and greatly reduce the risk of any buildup igniting.
- Candle safety: Lit candles should be kept a safe distance away from curtains, furniture or any other flammable objects. You may consider using battery-powered or electric candles, which produce a similar effect with the risk posed by an open flame.
- Smoking safety: Smoking is another common cause of home fires and the leading cause of deaths resulting from home fires. Smokers should take their cigarettes outside, away from flammable furniture and carpeting. Douse butts with water to completely extinguish them before tossing into a trash can.
We can help protect your home from any lingering fire risks. Call All About Insurance Agency at (817) 589-0006 for more information on Dallas home insurance.
Posted Friday, January 03 2014 9:09 AM
Tags : insurance, home insurance, fire insurance, dallas, fort worth, texas, fire prevention
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