Fire Safety Tips

In 2004, the 410 thousand residential fires in America caused more than 14 thousand injuries and 3 thousand deaths, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). You can prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, and even most residential fires by being knowledgeable about fire safety. Ensure your and your family’s safety by creating an escape plan, teaching children fire safety and fire-proofing your home.
Fire Safety Escape Plan
a fire safety escape plan tells everyone what to do if your home catches on fire. Your family needs to discuss fire safety issues, and design an escape plan for your home. The escape plan needs to inform everyone in your family of the two safest routes out of each room in your house and where to meet once outside.
When discussing fire safety issues with your family, it is also a good idea to talk about each person’s responsibilities in the case of a fire, such as who helps whom out of the house. Be sure to explain to each family member to crawl to a safe exit; don’t stop to save anything, and, if possible, to alert others by yelling “FIRE!” or beating on doors as they crawl by.
Fire Safety and Kids
Fire safety and education begins with children. Tragically, children cause over thousands of residential fires each year, the majority stemming from children playing with matches. You need to teach your children to obey the following fire safety rules: Never play with matches or lighters, always have an adult help you when cooking, never touch gasoline or any other flammable liquids,
Always STOP, DROP, AND ROLL! If you or your clothes catch on fire
Never place anything into an electrical outlet and always get help from an adult if something catches on fire.
Your children are the most important people in your life, so educate them about fire safety and prevention.
Fire Safety and Your Home
Electrical fires are the most common type of residential fires in America. The following fire safety tips lower the probability of residential electrical fires: Don’t overload outlets or piggy-back extension cords, Keep all combustible items, such as hairspray and household cleaners, away from all heaters, Check all electrical tools and appliances for frayed or cracked cords, Purchase electrical appliances that meet the Underwriter’s Laboratory’s (UL) safety requirements and Keep children away from electrical appliances, such as heaters and irons.
Electric stoves, ovens, stereos, heaters, and clothes dryers are responsible for the majority residential electrical fires. Follow all manufacturers’ instructions, and use all appliances carefully and responsibly. Sometimes, no matter the precautionary fire safety steps you take, an electrical fire can still occur. If this happens, knowing the proper fire safety procedure is invaluable in keeping your home safe. Shut off burning appliances by unplugging the cord, Put out small fires with your home fire extinguisher, Do not put water on electrical fires, Get everyone out of the house and Do not try to handle large fires by yourself; call 911, report the fire, and tell them it is an electrical fire.
Educating yourself and your family on fire safety helps to lower your chances of a residential fire and gives you the knowledge of what to do in the case of a fire.
Where you can find out more about Fire Alarms and articles on Fire Alarm Equipment.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Are your parents safe living at home? Are they mentally pretty clear, but beginning to have physical or judgment deficits which might impact their safety? Does your elderly parent have the judgment to safely handle a knife in the kitchen? Do you worry that Mom may fall down and not be able to get to the phone? According to The National Safety Council, falls are now the leading cause of injury deaths in people 65 years of age and older. Fall risk is just one of several safety issues specific to the kitchen. In this article, I will show you how to identify and reduce these hazards, keeping your elderly loved ones safer.
* Floors and floor coverings: Some floor cleaning solutions and floor wax leave the surface very slippery and should not be used. Throw rugs should be attached to the floor with double sided tape. If a cane or walker is used, throw rugs should be eliminated altogether.
* Lighting: Light switches need to be within easy reach. There should not be any areas inside the kitchen that cannot be illuminated.
* Water temperature: Set the hot water heater to no more than 120 F to lessen the risk of burns.
* Fire safety: Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially in the kitchen, and be sure to review its use with your elder loved ones. This is also a great opportunity to discuss fire safety in general, such as: avoiding loose hanging pajamas or loungewear while cooking; exit strategies, etc.
* Clutter: This may sound like a no-brainer, but it is often overlooked. Clear away unwanted items, especially from all pathways in the home. Besides reducing tripping hazards, this will help lessen fire risks.
* Heavy Objects: Go through the kitchen and move out-of-reach and heavy objects to a more convenient place to discourage use of a footstool, which would pose a fall risk.
* Use of sharp utensils and electric appliances: Observe your older family member cutting with a sharp knife or cooking with the microwave. If judgment is adequate, but lack of strength or coordination interferes with opening a jar or using a kitchen tool, there are many adaptive or assistive devices which can help. Rocker knives, eating utensils with thicker handles, and jar-openers are just a few examples.
* Food preparation is best done sitting at a table to prevent fatigue and fall risks.
* Food safety: Refrigerator temperature should be no greater than 40 F to slow bacterial growth, per the FDA. Food leftovers should be labeled with dates and discarded according to recommended time guidelines, or if they smell or look “off”. As my mom always used to say, “If in doubt, throw it out!” Since many elderly people may have a dulled sense of smell and poor vision, routinely check what’s in the refrigerator when you visit.
* Emergency plan: Be sure there is a smoke detector properly functioning on each level of the home. Attach an easy-to-read list of emergency phone numbers near every phone and review emergency procedures with your elderly family members. Since a large percentage of falls occur in the kitchen, installing a phone in this room is a great idea. You may want to consider a mobile safety alarm which is worn on the wrist or as a pendant, to automatically summon help with the push of a button.
If you still are not sure whether your loved ones just need a few new devices or if they truly need more involved help to be safe, you may want to obtain a safety evaluation performed by a Physical or Occupational Therapist specializing in geriatric care. These professionals are experts in determining one’s safety and judgment while performing activities of daily living and also can recommend appropriate assistive devices and alternative living environments if a change is needed.
Ronna Sather is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years of professional experience, assisting and guiding thousands of families dealing with the safety and independence of elderly loved ones at home. You can visit her website at http://www.seniorsafetyathome.com to find more articles, resources and products which promote senior safety and make life easier in the home environment.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/