- We all have smoke detectors in our homes. Be sure to check and replace batteries periodically.
- Distribute fire extinguishers in key areas such as the kitchen, bedrooms, workshop and garage.
- Every room in a house should have at least two escape routes.
- Walk your family through a fire drill so everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of fire. Make sure children know just where the family will reunite if they have to leave the house in case of an emergency.
- Don't overload electrical circuits with too many appliances.
- Ceiling fixtures and recessed lights trap heat and overheating can lead to fire, so it is important not to use a bulb of too high wattage in such fixtures. If you don't know the correct wattage, use a bulb of 60 or fewer watts.
- Boiling water for five minutes will kill diseases that cause bacteria, viruses and parasites. The water can then be strained through a coffee filter to help remove dirt and other particles.
- NEVER use water on electric, oil or grease fires. Water will only scatter the flames.
- Keep baking soda on hand for extinguishing a kitchen fire in an emergency.
- Don't run extension cords under rugs. The cords wear easily and may short out, causing a fire.
- Nails or staples used to attach electrical cords to the walls or baseboard can damage the cords and thus become fire or shock hazards. Tape cords to walls or floors instead of using nails or staples.
- Your house should appear occupied at all times. Use timers to switch lights and radios on and off when you are not at home.
- After installing a window lock, drip some solder onto the screw heads. That will stop a burglar from unscrewing the lock after cutting a small hole in the window pane.
- Change your lock cylinders from time to time, just in case someone has gotten hold of a set of your keys. If you lose your keys, change the lock immediately.
- Install a peephole in the door separating the house from the garage. If you hear suspicious sounds, you can check without opening the door.
- If your small child can't remember which is the hot water tap and which is the cold, make it easier by marking the hot tap with red tape.
- Older people may get burned from scalding water. If you set the hot water heater below 115 degrees you can avoid this risk.
- The following house plants are poisonous if swallowed or chewed and should be kept out of the reach of children: Poinsettia, Mistletoe, Rhubarb, Laurel, Rhododendron, Azalea, Cherry Boughs, and Daphne Berries.
- If you have children, do not place medicines in the medicine cabinet. Keep in a high closet away from curious hands.
- Be sure to use child-proof catches on all cupboards, especially those containing poisonous or caustic substances.
- Use a can of frozen juice for a quick ice pack. It fits in the palm of your hand and won't melt.
- Back porch stairs can become slippery. Try using a special deck paint to which a little sand has been added. This will give you better traction in rain or if your sprinkler goes astray.
- Secure throw rugs with nonskid pads and don't use them at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs.
- If you staple burlap to the bottom step of a ladder, you'll have a scraper for your shoes. This way you won't have any slippery substances left on your shoes when you are climbing the ladder.
- If the outside of your house is not very well lit, consider painting the outside steps white so that they are easier to see in the dark.
- Use disposable utensils such as plastic spoons and paper cups when mixing dry chemicals--you can dispose of them safely after use.
- Guard your pet from drinking from pools of antifreeze that gather under cars -- it's poisonous.
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