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