October is Fire Prevention Month, and organizations like the American Red Cross are distributing information to help people lessen the fire risks within their homes.
As the temperatures start to drop, many turn to space heaters to provide additional warmth in their homes or offices. Yet the U.S. Department of Energy says "safety is a top consideration when using space heaters. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths."
Here are a few tips to help you and your family use your space heater safely:
*Buy a current model with updated safety features. Also check to be sure your heater has an Underwriter's Laboratory attached.
*Select a heater that's properly sized for the area you want to heat rather than one that's too large.
In addition to installing smoke alarms throughout your home, you may opt to keep a couple of fire extinguishers on hand in case of an emergency.
Yet fire extinguishers, like most other things in your home, need to be inspected regularly to ensure they're in proper working order. Experts recommend waiting no more than a year to inspect your fire extinguishers, but checking them more often is encouraged. You may want to consider planning your fire extinguisher inspection to coincide with Daylight Saving Time, which is also an ideal time to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Check your fire extinguisher's gauge. If it doesn't read 100, you'll want to have it examined by a professional. It may be fixable, but you may also need to replace the extinguisher.
When it comes to home security, you can easily invest a lot of money in a high-budget alarm and monitoring system. Yet there are also several budget-friendly things you can do to boost your home's protection.
One of your first DIY home security priorities? Your home's windows, which are ideal entry spots for intruders. Taking the time to check your windows--and making a few simple changes--can help protect your home. And you'll enjoy added peace of mind, too.
Window Security Tips
*Keep your windows locked.
*Make sure ground-floor windows aren't blocked by plants, shrubs and landscaping, which can provide ideal cover for someone trying to break in.
One of my fondest childhood memories revolves around fireworks. Because my mom, brother and I lived just outside the city limits, fireworks were legal in our neighborhood--and we took full advantage every year. After pillaging the area fireworks tents to ensure we got the most bang for our buck (pun intended!), we'd race home and spread our loot on tables, where we'd commence bartering to ensure we each had the perfect stash. My brother preferred explosives, of course, while I loved things that moved and sparkled: hens laying eggs, tanks, sparklers, blooming flowers -- you get the drift.
Now that we're in the week leading up to our nation's birthday, this is an ideal time for a brief fireworks safety review, especially if you live in an area that allows fireworks and you're planning your own pyrotechnic display. Most of the tips are common sense, but they bear repeating so that you don't make the horrible mistake that I did one year. In an attempt to be daring, I closed several fingers around the just-extinguished tip of my metal sparkler. I ended up with a few painful burns that made the rest of the holiday a miserable experience. Smart, huh?
Fireworks Safety Tips
*The National Council on Fireworks Safety recommends having water nearby, whether it's a hose or a bucket.
*If you end up with a dud firework, don't try to relight it. Instead, wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
