I
I av mok d tector batt ri alone, to re i t th
t mptation of borrowing th m for oth r purpo .
In th family room. living room or recreation
room. mak ur that:
- Only one applianc i u d p r xt n ion cord
u d. Al 0, extension cord should not be run un
der rug or aero doorway.
In th ba em nt, utility or torage area • p opl
hould mak ure that:
- Tra h i di po ed of properly. including ood
having and awdu t around the work b nch.
Hating equipment hould b' check d annually.
and the area around the furnace, clothe dryer 'or
water heater hould b clear of combu tible .
- Fuse boxes should be equipp d with the
prop r- ized fuse • and pare should alway be
kept handy. If a fuse blow or a circuit breaker
trip • try to find the cau e. Make sure that the new
fuse is the right size and amp rase. Fu e protect
p ople against electrical fire =misusing them may
overload a circuit and cause a fire hazard.
The kitchen is a common place for fire in the
home. The following tip should make it afer:
- Make ure that all kitchen appliance are in
proper working order. If they're not. do not use
them until they are profe ionally repaired.
- Overloaded outlet ar a serious fir hazard.
- Keep the stove clean. a a greasy stove is a
gr ater fire hazard than a clean one.
- Wh n cooking, 'wearing tight-fitting sleeves in
stead of loose sleeves will substantially reduce
the ri k of clothing catching on fire.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
Bedroom are not exempt from fire ri k a well.
Remember that smoking in bed is a deadly home
fire hazard. Make sure matches and lighter are
not within the reach of children. Overloaded out
let and mi used exten ion cords can al 0 cau e
fire
If anyon
moke in the
home. large
a htray that
won't �ip over
are n eded. Re-
I m mber that a
dropped ciga
rette can smol
der for hour in
an uphol tered
chair before
bur ting into
flam.
- Matches and
lighter are out
of the' reach of
children. Teach
children that
matche and
lighters are tool for adult and that they are not
toy . .
- Coal or wood burning stoves are properly in
talled and maintained. Any alternative heaters
hould be properly used, and should be placed at
least 3 feet from combustible and away from
doorway and other traffic path . .
- Electrical cord and plug hould be in good
condition. If th yare frayed or cracked, they pre
ent a fire hazard. Moreover, overload d electri
cal outlet are a frequent cause of fires.
Your
P y"olld ys
By Patti David.
Although holiday light , trim, candle and a blaz
ing fire in the fireplace may h Ip us et the tone for
the holiday , they also greatly increa e the ri k for
home fire. Not only do they greatly increa e the
amount of el ctricity a home's wiring take • they
al 0 pr nt a numb r of oth r. potenti By danJr r
ou ituation. Following is a li t of precautions
compil d by the Los Angeles Fire Department that
w hould take in being fire afe 'during the holi
day.
decorate your
hou e, always
ar po ition d
tree, but not fastened to it.
• Keep children away from light et and electri
cal decoration. All hghts could cau e hock and
casualty hazard for curious kids.
• Make ure that your artificial Chri tma tree
bears the UL label.
• Do not r lyon chemical
coating or spray to make
your live ev rgre n tree
flame-r i tanto Follow the
following rule when shop
ping for a natural tree, bear
ing in mind that a fre h tree
lasts longer and i less of a
fire hazard than a dry tree:
- Make ure the tree ha a
de p gr n color and the tron,s. cent of pine
- The needle hould not easily fall ff a tree.
- The trunk butt hould b sti ky with ap.
• Po ition your Chri tma tree away from fire
places, heat rs and other heat sourc s. Keep it out
of heavily trafficked area and mak ure It doe
not block any doorways. '
• Cut about 2 inche off the trunk and mount the
tree in a turdy, water-holding tand. Be ure the
tree and stand are table. Keep the tand filled
with water, as a dry tree is a fire hazard.
• Before starting any fire, be sure to remove all
paper decoration and bough from the immediate
d or bare a�ea. Make sure the flue is open before starting any
fIres. ---
P 8 fir Pr v ntion W k uppl m nt 1994
r iorn.
r
Ie
• Do not smoke near flammable
decoration or Chri tma trees.
• When choosing decor for the tree,
u e non-leaded tin el or icicle.
Leaded material can be hazardou to
children or pets, if inge ted.
• Avoid decoration that tear ea ily or have
harp edges.
• Keep mall decoration away from children. as
th se can b wallowed and block air pas age .
• Do not u e decorations that look like food or
candy, or a child may try to eat them.
P'�!f
• After opening pre ents,
di pose of the wrapping im
m diately. Plac thi trash
in a m tal container. .......r-..........___.JI'1_----_,
• Do not burn wrapping in
the fireplace. as th y may ig
nite uddenly and cause a
fla h fire or a chimney fire.
•••
• Plan ahead: Keep emergency ervice phon
numbers posted on or near your t lephone.
• Keep a multi-purpose fire extingui her in your
home, and make ure you know how to u e it.
.• Make an emergency plan to use if fir br aks '
out in your home. Each family memb r should
know at least two e cape routes.
• Avoid wearing 100 e, flowing clothe • e pe
cially long, op n leev • n ar the open flame of a
fire plac , tove or candl -lit table.
• Plan for af ty. Th re i no ub titute for com
mon en e. Look for and eliminate pot ntial
troubl pot n ar candle , fireplace , tree and
I trical conn ction .
• At I a t on m mb r of th family hould b fa
miliar with ba i fir t aid pro edure