Tag Archives: smoke detectors

General Safety Issues

A GENTLE REMINDER: “SPRING FORWARD” SUNDAY!

Although the first day of Spring is not until March 20th, and most will agree,there have been few signs of Spring so far.  However, for those in the timezone that is affected by the time change, it is a good idea to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.  That way you won’t be late to church, or other plans you may have for that day.

Folks either love or hate Daylight Saving Time.  It gives those who enjoy golf and other sports more light in the evening.  Sunrise will be later, so for those driving to work or school, be extra careful to watch for youngsters on their bikes or walking to school.

This is a good time to check your batteries in your smoke detectors to ensure they are working correctly.  It’s also an opportunity to start preparing for warmer weather (we hope), and shop for any personal protective equipment you may need.  If you are a gardener or yard worker, be sure you have some good gloves, eye protection, and dust masks for mowing.  Other industrial businesses need to check their list for products that keep their workers more comfortable and stock up on supplies before it does get warm.

The folks at Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety hope that Spring arrives on time, as it has been such an extremely cold winter for most of the U.S.  Remember, too, that when you make a purchase and mention our Blog, you will receive a 5% discount. 

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

MODERN HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS – A HOMEOWNERS’ NEW BEST FRIEND? (GUEST POST)

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 Long gone are the days when homeowners simply purchase a “burglar alarm”. With current technology, home security systems are now the product of choice as they offer a full range of protection against much more than just home break-ins.

Fire and Smoke– From cooking mishaps to unattended candles, there are many potential fire sources in your home. Between 2006 and 2010 alone, The National Fire Protection Agency reported that one in every 310 homes experienced a fire. While standard smoke alarms offer some protection, you never know when a battery can die and leave you unprotected. When looking for a home security system, look for one that offers fire and smoke detection which can make your home much safer against the threat of fire and smoke damage.

Carbon Monoxide– Often referred to as the “silent killer”, carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can cause severe health problems and death when humans are exposed to it in high quantities. It is often emitted by home furnaces and other appliances. Many modern home security systems contain carbon monoxide detectors that can alert homeowners immediately if the gas is found present in the air.

Water Damage– The National Flood Insurance Program’s website tells that even just 3 inches of flood water in a 2,000 square foot home can cause close to $39,000 in damage. A comprehensive home security system may include water sensors that detect when water (from a flood or burst pipe) has entered the home. As any flood victim knows from experience, the longer flood water is in a home the greater the threat of dangerous mold to grow. Tending to the issue immediately can often save homeowners thousands of dollars in additional damage.

Medical Emergencies– Slip and fall injuries are some of the most common household injuries to be sustained, but they are certainly not the only ones. If you are a senior citizen or if you have a senior citizen living in your home, it is often a good idea to have a security alarm that includes a medical emergency response system. Typically this equates to the homeowners just having to push one button on their security system panel to alert the police and an ambulance that a response is needed at your address.

Power Outages– When you are home you are likely to know about a power outage right away. However, if you are away from home (especially for an extended period of time) you may not realize that the power to your home has been lost. Since the power in your home is needed to operate your refrigerator and freezer, as well as security lighting, it is important to never lose power even while you are not at home. Many newer home security systems can run on battery back-up in the event of a power loss and notify the homeowner immediately upon loss of power.

This article was contributed by C. Wiley of the SecurityChoice.com Blog.

Other types of home security include having flashlights handy in case of blackouts, as well as first aid kits, in case of minor accidents.  pb

 

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

DO YOU HAVE THESE FIVE SAFETY TOOLS IN YOUR HOME?

How about taking a little inventory of your home and see if you have all of these protective tools?  I have found that I need to go buy some of them, as well!

Smoke detectors are one of those amazing inventions that, because of mass production, cost almost nothing. And while they cost very little, (around $7), smoke d­etectors save thousands of lives each year. In fact,it is recommended that every home have one smoke detector per floor.  All smoke detectors consist of two basic parts: a sensor to sense the smoke and a very loud electronic horn to wake people up. Smoke detectors can run off of a 9-volt battery or 120-volt house current.  Test your detectors regularly.

Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed outside all bedrooms.  CO is oderless and colorless, and can be fatal unless detected.  Place a detector outside all bedrooms.  Carbon monoxide poisoning impairs breathing, and can cause permanent brain damage or death, especially after prolonged exposure to this gas.  Learn what to do to help someone who has been exposed to it, by first getting them outside into fresh air, and calling for medical help immediately.

­A fire­ extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or office. While there’s a good chance that the extinguisher will sit on the wall for years, collecting dust, it could end up saving your property and even your life.  Most fire extinguishers asre combination Class ABC types.  Class A puts out fires of ordinary combustibles.  Class B is used on fires involving flammable liquids such as oil.  Class C is used on electrical fires.  Fire extinguishers are designed to remove at least one of these elements so that a fire will die out:

  • Extreme heat
  • Oxygen (or similar gas)
  • Fuel

One of the newer circuit breaker devices is the ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI.  These sophisticated breakers are designed to protect people from electrical shock, rather than prevent damage to a building’s wiring. The GFCI constantly monitors the current in a circuit’s neutral wire and hot wire. When everything is working correctly, the current in both wires should be exactly the same. As soon as the hot wire connects directly to ground (if somebody accidentally touches the hot wire, for example), the current level surges in the hot wire, but not in the neutral wire. The GFCI breaks the circuit as soon as this happens, preventing electrocution. Since it doesn’t have to wait for current to climb to unsafe levels, the GFCI reacts much more quickly than a conventional breaker.  These should be used especially in the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen.

Last, but not least, every home should have First-aid/Emergency Kits that are stocked with the following basic first aid supplies, medicines, and home health supplies:

Bandages and dressings:

  • Adhesive bandages (Band-Aid or similar brand); assorted sizes
  • Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
  • Elastic (ACE) bandage for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries
  • Triangular bandage for wrapping injuries and making an arm sling
  • Aluminum finger splints
  • Eye shield, pads, and bandages

Home health equipment:

  • Thermometer
  • Syringe, medicine cup, or medicine spoon for giving specific doses of medicine
  • Disposable, instant ice bags
  • Tweezers, to remove ticks and small splinters
  • Sterile cotton balls
  • Sterile cotton-tipped swabs
  • Blue “baby bulb” or “turkey baster” suction device
  • Save-A-Tooth storage device in case a tooth is broken or knocked out; contains a travel case and salt solution
  • First-aid manual

Medicine for cuts and injuries:

  • Antiseptic solution, such as hydrogen peroxide or wipes
  • Antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin, polysporin, or mupirocin
  • Sterile eyewash, such as contact lens saline solution
  • Calamine lotion for stings or poison ivy
  • Hydrocortisone cream, ointment, or lotion for itching
  • Benadryl, if you know you are allergic to stings, etc.

By planning ahead, you can create a well-stocked home first aid kit. Keep all of your supplies in one location so you know exactly where they are when you need them.  Think about ensuring your family’s safety by having these important safety tools in your home.

General Safety Issues

A CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY – HOME FIRE

Christmas is a time of wonder, but it can be costly if safety is ignored.  A recent tragedy in Connecticut reminds us of the many things we must be cautious about when using a fireplace.  Two fatal mistakes may have cost the lives of the three little girls and their grandparents who died Christmas morning when a century-old Victorian mansion went up in flames and turned into a death trap.  This report is from the New York Post.

Fire marshals in Stamford, Conn., said the homeowner’s boyfriend, contractor Michael Borcino, put still-smoldering embers from a yule log into some kind of a bag — and then left it leaning against an outside rear wall of the $1.7 million house.  Marshals said the embers had not been doused with water.  On the other side of the wall was a mud room.  When the wall caught fire between 3 and 3:30 a.m., the five people sleeping on the second and third floors had no warning — because there were no functioning smoke detectors.

City official Ernie Orgera said a modern “hardwired” smoke detection system was being installed as part of ongoing renovations. But it hadn’t gone online in the five-bedroom home, which was built in 1895. And there was no evidence that battery-operated detectors had been in use.  The home’s owner, Madonna Badger, and her boyfriend, Michael Borcino, were the only survivors of the fire, despite making every effort to save her children and parents.

Another cause of home fires during this season are Christmas tree fires.  Many persons enjoy keeping their decorations up until after New Year’s Day.  The National Fire Prevention Association recommends getting rid of the tree when it is dry.  They should not be kept in the home, garage, or around the house once they become dry.

The NFPA also suggests the following ideas to reduce the risk of holiday light fires and keep equipment in good condition for next year:

  • To unplug electric decorations, use the gripping area provided on the plugs. Never pull the cord to unplug a device from electrical outlets. Doing so can harm the cord’s wire and insulation and even lead to an electrical shock or fire.
  • As you’re putting away electrical light strings, inspect each for damage. Throw out light sets if they have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
  • Do not place a damaged set of lights back into the storage box for next year’s use.
  • Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap the lights around a piece of cardboard.
  • Store electrical decorations in a dry place where they cannot be damaged by water or dampness. Also, keep them away from children and pets.

Please check your smoke detectors and replace the batteries if necessary!  It’s going to be a long winter.  Take all the safety precautions regarding fireplaces seriously.  Dispose of ashes properly, and wet them down, away from the house.  Do not leave a fire burning in the fireplace when you go to bed.  Practice fireplace and candle safety and other ways to prevent fires.  It only takes one spark to cause devestation.

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

TIME TO CHECK THE CHIMNEY!

Hopefully, you haven’t fired up the fireplace without first having it checked out.  Wood burning fireplaces are designed to furnish years of comfort and leisure.  However, there are several things to consider to be sure your fireplace works properly. 

Fireplaces require preventive maintenance, such as being inspected and cleaned annually.  Chimney sweeps inspect and clean the chimney as necessary by removing creosote and leaves, branches, or nests.   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that about seven per cent of home fires are caused by creosote buildup.

Creosote is a flammable substance that is hard, dark, and crust-like. It is produced during incomplete combustion of wood.   An accumulation of creosote can cause a dangerous chimney fire, so it must be removed.  Burning dry hardwoods that contain lower moisture content will minimize creosote.  A hot fire produces less creosote than smoldering woods. Increase the air supply if necessary so that wood burns more completely.  Wood that has been dried and seasoned for about six months is best to burn.  It is darker and will have cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when smacked against another piece of wood, according to tips from the EPA. 

Common sense tips on use of a wood fireplace include:

  • Make sure area around fireplace is clear of potentially flammable materials, i.e., newspapers, books and furniture.  A good rule of thumb is to keep such items at least two feet away.
  •  Be sure the damper is open prior to starting a fire.
  • Do not use flammable fluids to start a fire.
  •  Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.
  •  Use a fireplace grate.
  •  Always use a screen around fireplace to keep sparks from flying out.
  •  Clean out ashes from previous fires.  Do not leave smoking embers unattended.
  •  Damper should be left open until ashes are completely cooled down.
  •  Never put wrapping paper, plastic items, or other things in the fire that could create toxic chemicals in the smoke.
  •  Use proper fireplace tools when rearranging partially burning wood.
  •  Be sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. 

The U.S. Fire Administration and some fire department chiefs recommends  building a “romantic fire” rather than a “roaring blaze” to keep the fireplace from being overloaded and building up too much heat.   Their experts also advise parents to warn children about the dangers of fire.   Never leave children unattended when you have a fire burning in the fireplace.  When you go out to get wood for your fireplace, wear gloves .  (There  may be critters such as scorpions lurking in the wood!)

Chimney caps are fitted with wire mesh sides to cover the hole at the top of the chimney and are ideal for keeping birds, animals, rain and debris from entering the fireplace.  (It might also pose a problem for Santa!)  Always replace or repair a damaged or missing cap.

Stack firewood at least 30′ from the house.  Also be sure that your roof is free of pine needles, leaves, and any branches that might hang over the chimney.  Fireplaces are great sources of comfort and relaxation; however, they must be properly used and maintained in order to keep your family safe.