Fire Safety Tips

Every year more than 700 lives are lost and 5,000 people are injured in bedroom blazes, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unprotected mattresses are not designed to help control the outbreak from open-flame fire sources such as candles, matches, and sparks from electrical outlets and lighters.
In less than five minutes, most mattresses, when ignited, can reach what fire officials call “flashover” temperatures (around 900 degrees F). Flashover generates enough heat to ignite an entire room at once, and forces smoke and fire throughout the rest of the house. To prevent bedroom fires and keep you and your family safe, here are some critical tips to keep in mind:
Protect Your Family with Smoke Alarms
* Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and familiarize your family with the sound of your smoke alarm.
* Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery every six months to a year.
* Replace the smoke alarm every 10 years or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Install a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm
* Place one outside areas where people sleep.
* Make sure everyone knows the difference between the sound of a smoke alarm and a CO alarm.
Create a Fire Escape Plan
* Create several escape plans with different exits in case one or more are blocked with fire and/or smoke.
* Practice home drills on a regular basis.
* Young children often panic in fires, hiding in closets or under beds – teach them to get out of the house immediately.
The Need for Fire Extinguishers
* Make sure one is placed on every level of the house.
* Read instructions and become familiar with its parts and operation.
* Do a pressure check every month.
Look for a Mattress Made with Open-Flame Resistant Protection
* Buy a mattress that includes an open-flame resistant protection, such as Serta’s FireBlocker, to keep you and your family safe from bedroom fires. These mattresses pass a 30-minute ignition test and give you and your family more time to escape safely in the case of a bedroom fire.
* Look for the label that specifies whether or not the mattress has open-flame resistant protection. Serta is the first and only national manufacturer to provide open-flame resistant protection in all its bedding nationwide.
Electrical Maintenance
* Make sure wet areas in your home are protected by ground fault circuit interrupters.
* Use safe light bulb wattage for each fixture.
* Never use worn, frayed or otherwise damaged cords or appliances.
Know What Your Children Are Doing
* Do not leave young children alone even for a short time.
* Keep matches and lighters in a secure drawer or cabinet.
Careful Candle Use
* Use candles only in rooms where there is a responsible adult awake to control and oversee the flame.
* Keep candles away from items that can catch fire.
* Keep candles away from high-traffic locations where they can be easily knocked over.
By: Ned Gonzalez

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