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.

If you have a fireplace you probably want to be able to use it without any fears and concerns. But, chimney fires are a cause for great concern for individuals that do not know the proper steps to take in order to decrease the likelihood of them occurring. Try following these simple steps to decrease the chance of any chimney fires taking place in your home.

1.)   Only use really dry wood when you get ready for your fire. This is often called seasoned wood and it is very important in preventing fires. Your chimney may become clogged if you are using wood that has a lot of moisture in it. This can increase fires, so the dryer the better. 

2.)   Build small fires each time that you decide to have one. This will also decrease the amount of smoke that the fire produces.

3.)   Only burn wood. When you burn paper and trash you will be increasing sparks that can contribute to chimney fires. Because paper and trash is lighter than wood, it can float up out of the chimney and onto the roof. A paper that is still on fire and lands on the roof will cause the roof to become a blazed.

4.)   Have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis. If you are not able to clean the chimney yourself then you can call a professional to come and do it for you. These individuals are very easily found by looking in your local phone book or on the internet.

You should always practice safe precautions when working with any type of fire. Make sure your family knows the do’s and don’ts of using the fire place, where you keep the fire extinguishers, how to extinguish home fires, and what to do if your home is on fire.

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.

Electrical Safety

Operating with electricity is one of the most dangerous activities you can undertake as home owner. If not handled properly, electricity can cause dangerous shocks and fires. Most electrical home injuries are a result of touching live wires that were thought dead. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when working with electricity.

Cut off the power. The most important thing to remember when doing electrical repairs is to cut power to your home and appliance you’re working on. Before you start to work on the wiring, always trip the circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse to the circuit. When in doubt about which circuit to switch off, you should turn off the main power supply. Make sure to unplug any appliance you’re working on.

Backup electrical safety. Once you have cut off power, there are five additional safety measures that should be carried out. Sometimes these extra steps are referred to as backup electrical safety.

1. Using a circuit tester to make sure a circuit is actually dead.
2. Use a wood or fiberglass ladder when working on ceiling fixtures such as fans and chandeliers. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity and offer a high risk to getting shocked.
3. Use a cordless drill when working on electricity outdoors.
4. Stand on a dry board and wear rubber boots when working in damp or wet conditions. Water is a conductor of electricity.
5. Always wear insulating gloves when using electrical tools.

Fire Hazards. Faulty wiring can cause fires. Restriction of a current flow through a wire or cord, such as a cord that is poorly connected to its plug, may lead to overheating and a fire. If a cord shows any wear and tear it should be replace as quickly as possible.

The “extension cord octopus” is another common cause of electrical fires. Where too many appliances are plugged into an extension cord excessive heat builds up in the cord as it extension cord tries to carry the electricity for all the appliances. The cord’s insulation melts from the heat and wires are exposed as the insulation weakens. This leads to a short circuit that sends sparks flying when the bare wires touch one another. This situation can lead to serious shocks, as well as electrical fires.

More safety precautions. In addition to the safety measures above, here are a few extra precautions to keep in mind.

• Lock or leave a note on the service panel to alert others that you are working on circuit wiring.
• Study your homes wiring and know how it works before you adjust or work on any electrical system. 
• Circuits are dead only past where they have been disconnected. Even after the circuit breakers have been turned off or the fuses removed, the lines for the utility company in the service panel are still hot.

To tell apart between an overloaded circuit and a short circuit can be difficult. Circuits well become overloaded when there are too many appliances on it than it can safely handle. When all the appliances on the circuit are turned on simultaneously, the wiring becomes overheated and causing the circuit breaker to trip or the fuse to blow. In worse cases this problem may cause the circuit to spark or start on fire.

A short circuit occurs when a bare hot wire comes in contact with a bare neutral wire or ground center. The flood of extra current trips a circuit breaker or blows a fuse.

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

*Should be done by a professional.

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.

1. Get everyone out of the home.
2. Call the fire department form a neighbor’s house or your cellular phone.

Equip your home with a portable fire extinguisher. Portable fire extinguishers are useful for fighting small, contained fires. Extinguishers are classed by the type of fire they are intended to put out. If you have only one extinguisher, make sure it is a universal extinguisher and will put out all types of fires. If you have more than one extinguisher, store it where it will be effective against the type of fire likely to occur in that area. Make sure to learn how to use extinguishers before you need them. Here are some home fires you may come across and how you can extinguish them.

Kitchen Grease Fires: These fires typically result from cooking.

• Small Grease / Oil Fire in a pan: Turn off the heat right away and cover the pan with a lid. DON’T pour water on a grease or oil fire because water will cause the fire to spread.
• Oven Fire: Turn off the heat and let the fire burn itself out. DON’T open the door to the oven. This will let in more air and will feed the fire and causing it to maintain burning.

Chimney and Roof Fires: A chimney fire occurs when the soot and creosote deposits inside the flue ignite; resulting in a loud roaring noise and causing flames and sparks to discharge out of the chimney. A roof fire results from sparks traveling up the flue and igniting the roof. Most often, such a fire burns through the roof before it is discovered.

• In the event of a chimney or roof fire make sure to get everyone out of the house immediately and call the fire department.

To prevent such fires, examine the following safety measures:

• Keep your chimney or your stovepipe clean.
• Do not burn huge amounts of newspaper or other paper products in your fireplace or wood stove.
• Mount a sparks arrester on the top of your flue.