Posts Tagged ‘Preventing’

Many of the common causes for fire damage in the living room can be easily prevented, if given proper attention. The following safety rules will help assuring a safe environment in your living room, minimizing fire hazards caused by electrical devices, upholstered furniture, smoking, lighters, matches, and candles

 

 

Electrical Devices

 

Start with checking outlets, sockets, and extension cord. Make sure that they are not overloaded. Never run extension cord under carpets and confirm that they are not looped over nails or other sharp objects that could cause them to fray. Lamps should be used with proper wattage bulbs. Keep adequate space around TVs and stereo equipment to allow air to free flow and cool these items down. It is very important that fuses in the plugs of your TV, and stereo are rated correctly.

 

 

Upholstered Furniture

 

Modern upholstered furniture are required be resistant to ignition from burning cigarettes and matches. Check the label to see when your upholstered furniture was manufactured. If it was manufactured before 1988, it is not fire-resistant and you must be more cautious

 

 

Smoking, Lighters and Matches

 

Keep matches and lighters away from kids and educate them that matches and lighters are dangerous and must be used very carefully. If you have kids, it is recommended to use childproof lighters and matchboxes. Do not leave burning cigarettes unwatched. They can fall onto combustible materials and develop into a serious fire. Be sure to put out smoking materials before you go to sleep. Conform that the contents of ashtrays are cold before you throw them to the trash. It is better to use solid and stable ashtrays, preferably made of non-combustible material. Ashtrays should be large, deep and frequently emptied.

 

 

Candles

 

Keep candles away from curtains, furniture, and anything else that can catch fire. Place candles away from open windows or where they are exposed to draughts. Use proper candleholders and make sure the candle fits firmly inside them. Minimize the option of fire even if a candle falls by leaving a clearance above and around it. Never leave candles unattended.

 

The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in your house as it contains many hazards and a high potential for unintentional fires such as frying pans, deep fry pans, oven, stove, appliances, and microwave ovens. Read the following safety rules carefully to learn how to prevent fire damage in the kitchen.

 

These are simple to follow guidelines for do-it-yourself inspections that will require very little time to complete. Be sure to be consistent and to perform these inspections regularly.

 

Frying Pans and Deep Fry Pans

 

Using a thermostat controlled fryer is a great way to prevent deep fry pans fires. Avoid fat and grease build up on the stove or pans because fat and grease can easily catch fire.

 

Oven and Stove

 

The oven and range must be cleaned often to prevent grease and food from catching fire. Be careful when you cook and keep pot handles away from the edge of the stove. Don’t wear long sleeves that can hang over the stove and catch fire. Always look on the oven when it is on and don’t forget to turn it off when not in use. Place flammable fabrics, such as towels, away from the gas or electric range. Be careful with flammable liquids such as cleaning materials.

 

Appliances

 

The most important safety rule for appliances is to use only appliances that have been tested and approved by a testing facility. Avoid overloading electrical outlets and check for worn or broken wiring on a regular basis. If you find defects be sure to make necessary repairs immediately. It is also very important to keep appliance cords on the counter to prevent them from, accidentally, being pulled down.

 

 

Microwave Ovens

 

A very common mistake regarding microwave ovens is the wrong assumption that items, heated in the microwave oven, are not as hot as items heated in a regular oven or a mini oven. Keep in mind that even though the container does not heat, the content does.  Be sure all the vents are cleared of obstructions and that the microwave oven has an adequate clearance for air circulation. Never place aluminum foil or other metals in a microwave oven.