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.

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.

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.

Lever Switch: To shout off pull the lever to the OFF position.             

Pull-Out Fuse Block: To turn off electrical power, pull firmly on the head grip to remove the blocks. Once the block is removed your power will be shut off.

Single Main Circuit Breaker: Push the main breaker handle to the OFF position to turn off the power.

When you’re working on a switch, receptacle, or fixture that cannot be unplugged, shut off the power to the branch circuit. Flip the breaker for the circuit to the OFF position. For a circuit with a fuse, turn off the main power supply before removing the fuse for the circuit you’re working on. Once you are done, you can then turn back on the main power supply. Apply backup electrical safety measures.

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.