Preventing A Fire
The best way of surviving a fire is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Here are some tips:
- Keep your home free of oily rags and trash build-up. Gasoline and other flammable
liquids should be stored in approved metal safety cans.
- Cleaning materials should be kept in a ventilated area, away from any heat source.
Vapors given off by these substances can ignite when they come in contact with a
heat source, such as a pilot light.
- Check lamps, appliance cords and light switches to make sure there is no faulty
wiring. Never overload electrical circuits.
- Allow adequate ventilation space around televisions, stereos and other entertainment
equipment.
- Teach your children not to play with matches. Keep matches in a closed metal container
away from heat sources and out of the reach of children.
- Never smoke in bed. Carelessly discarded cigarettes are the leading cause of fire
deaths in the United States.
- Remove all weeds, tree branches and litter from your yard.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure it is properly screened and install a spark arrestor
with at least a half-inch mesh on the chimney.
- Daily household trash should be kept in a covered can away from any heat source.
Recycle newspapers frequently.
- Be a careful cook. Never wear long sleeves when you cook -- they can catch fire.
Keep the handles of your pots turned inward, so the pots can't be knocked over.
Never put foil or other metals in a microwave oven.