If you follow these simple steps you can childproof your house and make it a safer place for your child to live. 

1. You should go to your local hardware store and gather supplies.  The supplies you will need include plug covers, cabinet clips, drawer holders and baby gates.

2. First you should set up the baby gates.  Baby gates are not only used to keep children in a desired area, but also to cover stair ways and dangerous areas.  All stairs and dangerous areas should be properly sealed off by a baby gate.

3. Drawer holders and cabinet clips should be installed next.  Drawer holders will prevent children from opening a drawer unless the press down on a tab, which most likely they will not.  Cabinet clips work the same way, except they are placed on a cabinet and prevent the cabinet from opening unless a tab is press in.

4. Plug covers are also a very important part of childproofing your home.  You never know what a child could find to shove into small place.  Plug covers should be placed on every plug that is open no matter where they are located in the house.

Just by following these simple steps you can make your home a safe environment for your child to live in.  You will never have to worry about them getting into the knife drawer or stuffing things into the outlets.

It is quick and easy to check your carbon monoxide detector, and you can do so by following these simple steps.

• Remove your carbon monoxide detector from the wall it is plugged into and place it in a safe dry place.  Do not put the detector into a wet area, because it does use electricity and being wet can cause a malfunction.

• Clean the dust and dirt out from the various creases in the device, using a dry cloth.  This is the most important step because dust and dirt can cause the device to not detect the carbon monoxide.

•  Press the “test” button on the device.  When you press the “test” button an alarm will sound.  This sound will let you know that your device is working right and that you can plug it back into the wall. 

Having a working carbon monoxide detector is an important asset to have in your house.  It can keep people safe and ensure that your home is not being threatened.  Because carbon monoxide is odorless, the only way to detect it is with a carbon monoxide detector.  If you do not regularly check your carbon monoxide detector, you may not be fully protected. You can plan to check your carbon monoxide detector with your usual checkups on your fire alarm in your home

1.)   Be sure that you change the batteries and check your  fire alarm.  You will want to be certain that you are doing this at least one time per year.  It is actually recommended that you do it on the weekend of daylight savings time.  This will help you remember to change the batteries when you need to change your clocks. 

2.)   Update your first aid kit. You will be amazed at the things you remove from this kit throughout the year.  Therefore, you need to check it periodically to ensure that you have everything you need in it.  Make a note on your calendar so that you do not forget to do it on a more regular basis. When you do update your first aid kit, make sure to check any products that have expiration dates and replace them once they are expired. 

3.)   Check the pressure of your fire extinguisher.  Some people think that they just need to purchase one, place it in their kitchen and forget about it.  This is not true. They do decrease in pressure over a period of time so it needs to be checked to ensure that it will work properly in the time of an emergence. 

Taking the time to do these things will help keep you, as well as your family, safe.  These things do not take long and you will be glad you did them if there is ever an emergency.

Try following these simple steps when you check your fire alarms so that you can be sure they are working correctly.

1.)   Always check the batteries. If you have a battery tester you can use that. If you do not have a tester then you should just replace the batteries all together every few months. That way you always know that they are working properly.

2.)   While you are checking the batteries, take the time to check all of the wires. You want to know that the connections are good and working correctly. If the alarm goes off when you touch the wires, you may have a bad connection and you will want to get a new alarm. 

3.)   Clean the fire alarm out. It can get bugs and dust in it. These things can effect the way that fire alarm operates. It is often best to clean out all dust and bugs that may be in the alarm in order to ensure it is working properly.

You need to complete these steps on a regular basis. If you are afraid that you will overlook to check your fire alarms, then you may want to write it down on a calendar so that you do not forget.

Make sure you know where to place a smoke detector within your homeas as well.  Properly placed fire alarms can save you and your families lives. It is very important to properly place a check your fire alarms for your safety.

The following is a list of some things that need to be on hand and in a secure location in case of any emergencies.

1.)    You should always have a first aid kit easily accessible.  This can be used for any emergency when an individual may be injured.
2.)    Be certain that you have blankets and plenty of them in case the power goes out and you are dealing with poor weather.
3.)    Keep extra clothes handy and keep them in a waterproof container so that they do not get wet. Extra socks are also good to keep in hand.
4.)    Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy so that you will always have light. You may want to also keep candles and lighters in a specific location so you can find them as well.
5.)    Have a battery operated radio so that you will be able to listen to emergency broadcasts that may be available.
6.)    Fresh water and non perishable food items, along with a can opener, are also good to have.

7.  If you have pets, make sure you have extra pet food and water available for them as well. Keep a leash with the backup food in case you need to leave the house.

8. Back up toiletries are also good to have in cause the disaster last more than a day. You can keep in a large zip lock bag: your tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, shampoo/conditioner, woman hygiene projects, and contact solution if you were contacts.

When you have all of these things available you will be ready for just about anything that may come your way.You should also know what to do if you have a gas leak in your home, how to shut off electrical power and what to do if you have power failure or electrical sparks in your home.

So, where should they be placed?

1.)   You need to have one in every sleeping area as well as in each adjoining room.
 
2.)   Place at least one on every floor of your home. This includes the basement so you need to be sure that you have not forgotten this area.

3.)   Install a smoke detector in areas of the house where the furnace or water heater is located as well. These things may create a fire and it is a good idea to have the smoke detector close to these things.

When you purchase smoke detectors you need to be sure that you buy the smoke detectors that are interconnected.  This means that if one goes off, they will all be triggered.  This really is the safest thing for you and your family.  You also need to read the instructions with each one so that you are sure that you know how to test them.  This will also tell you how often you will need to replace the batteries. Once a month you should test the smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly and that the batteries are not dead. This is a small task to do that will keep your family safe from a home fire disaster.

If your fire detectors do go off and you have a fire in your home, make sure you know how to extinguish home fires, if the fire is too out of control, get out of the house immediately and call the fire department.

Deciding whether to take on a repair project by yourself or when to call in a professional for home repairs, involves four factors:

1. The type of repair

2. Your available time

3. Your tools

4. Your skills

Do you have time? If a repair must be fixed immediately for the safety measures, such as fixing a broken step or unclogging a toilet, but you do not have the time, you need to call a professional.

Where timing is not as critical , you should consider the size and effort of the work needed to fix the repair. A project that might take a professional a day or two could take you up to two or three weeks. Working in your spare time, if you have any, makes a project last longer than necessary. If you believe that the cost of having the work done is more that the inconvenience of living with a repair in progress, then you may not need a professional. However if the ongoing repair is more of a inconvenience than the money lost to a repair man then by all means hire a professional. 

Tools you’ll need. Compare the cost of buying or renting any specialized tools that are needed for a job. If you don’t expect to use those tools again, a professional is defiantly the better choice. For example to repair your roof, you must have special roof safety equipment or clearing a clogged main drain may call for power auger. A professional includes the investment cost in the right tools for such jobs is part of their fee.

Your skills. Be realistic about your knowledge and abilities. If you aren’t sure how to make a particular repair after reading and attending dealer domes and manufactures instructions, you are better off having the job done professionally. The same is true if your not comfortable fixing a repair that is to dangerous, like working on the roof.

Choosing a professional. The best way to find a quality professional is to ask your friends or neighbors for recommendations. You can also ask for referrals form building material outlets and community colleges or local groups that offer building educational classes.

If using the yellow pages to find professional repair services, look under the “Fit-it Services.” For more specific repair services, look under the appropriate category, such as “Electric Contractor” or “Roofing Contractor.” You can also use the local newspapers which carry ads for individuals specializing in home repair.

Before you begin working with any professional, make sure to establish the fee before they start working on the repair. Be clear about the specific work that’s needed. if you are paying by the hour, ask for the estimates time the repair will be complete. For any major repairs make sure to ask for references and compare the fees and the quality of work of several professionals before deciding.

1. Get everyone out of the house at once.
2. Use a neighbor’s phone or your cell phone, once you are away of from your home, to call the gas company or the fire department.
3. Don’t light a math or turn on/off any electrical switch. The danger of fire or an explosion is high. You should leave as many windows and doors open to help clear out the gas from the house.

Once you know everyone is safely out of your home, you can turn off the gas supply at the main gas shutoff valve. If you feel unsafe to turn off the gas shutoff valve, you can wait for the utility company to arrive to shut it off for you. The valve is usually located on the gas inlet pipe next to the gas meter. To shut off the gas, use an adjustable wrench to turn the gas shutoff valve a quarter-turn in either direction so that the valve flats are in a closed position. The valve should be perpendicular to the pipe.

Gas Shutoff Valve

Don’t turn the gas back on until you’ve discovered the source of the gas leak and have corrected it.

In the event of a natural disaster, you may have to turn off the gas supply to your home. Make sure you and all members of your family know the location of the gas shutoff valve and how to close it. To help your family identify the gas valve, attach a tie-on tag to the valve and label it Gas Shutoff Valve. Leave an adjustable wrench in a reachable location so it will be close at hand in the event of an emergency.

Adjustable Wrenches: Adjustable wrenches are a must have for any home owner’s toolbox. A 6, 8, and 10 inch length should meet most of your household needs. To use an adjustable wrench, open the wrench all the way and then place over the item to be tightened or loosen. Seat the head all the way into the jaws and tighten the jaws.  Always turn an adjustable wrench toward the direction of wrenches adjustable jaw.

Types of Wrenches

Fixed-end Wrenches: Fixed-end wrenches can handle tons of pressure, but you must have the right size that exactly matches the fastener’s head. These wrenches come in box-end, open-end, or combination styles.

Ratchet Wrenches: A ratchet wrench with interchangeable sockets does what fixed-end wrenches do, but does the job a lot faster. For each turn you make on the lever of the handle, it reverses the turning direction of the socket on the nut or bolt.

Allen Wrenches: To loosen a set screw use an Allen wrench. Make sure to perches a set that includes a range of sizes. When using an Allen wrench make sure to tighten by hand only. Don’t use pliers to apply any pressure to turning the Allen wrench.

It’s smart to keep on hand a supply of the proper-size fuses for your home, so you can replace any that have blown. Also have flash lights with extra batteries as well as candles and matches handy in case of power failure within your home.

Power Failure: If the electricity fails unexpectedly in your home, determine first if it’s  just in your house or throughout the community.

• If the outage affects the community, notify the utility company.
• If the problem is just in your home, you need to check for blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. Replace any blown fuses or reset any tripped circuit breakers and then test for a short circuit or overload. Once the problem has been corrected, return power to your home.
• To hinder food spoilage, don’t open the refrigerator or freezer while the power is out unless absolutely necessary.

Smoking or Sparking Appliance: Right away unplug the appliance or shut off the wall switch that powers the appliance. If you can’t unplug the appliance itself, turn off the power to the circuit. DON’T touch the appliance itself.

• Once the appliance cools off, take it to repair shop or call a service spokesperson to come to and make the proper repairs.
• If the appliance catches on fire, use a fire extinguisher to set out the fire. If the fire continues, get everyone out of the house and call the fire department from a neighbor’s home or from your cell phone. DON’T ever use water on an electrical fire.

Smoking or Sparking Appliance Plug: Cut off power to the outlet at once. By the cord, unplug the appliance and allow the plug to cool sown. Check the cord and plug for any signs of damage that need to be replaced if they are faulty.

• Once you have repaired the appliance plug, check for a blown fuse that may need to be replaced or reset a tripped circuit breaker.
• When you have inspected the plug and cord of the appliance and they are in excellent state, and if the circuit is fine, then the fault may be within the outlet. If this is the case replace the outlet.

Caution:

Never work with any live or wet circuit, fixture, appliance, or receptacle, or switch.

Shut off the power first and test the circuit carefully with a circuit tester.