Preventing Fire in Your Home

By Ariana Bianchi

Too many people in this country face the horror of fire each year. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 4,000 Americans die and 20,000 are injured in fires annually, yet many of these fires are preventable. Tragically, many fires occur in homes, affecting children.

Because October is Fire Safety Month, now is the perfect time to think about what you can do to prevent a fire from breaking out in your home and devastating the things you love most. Alison Rhodes, "The Safety Mom," is a nationally-recognized expert in child safety and founder and CEO of Peek-A-Boo Babyproofing, Inc.. She offers the tips below.

To make your home and your children safer from fire:

 Install and properly maintain smoke detectors in your home. These should be placed on each floor level, outside each sleeping area, and in each bedroom.  Create a fire escape plan for your family to help avoid confusion and chaos in the event of a fire.  Have a portable fire extinguisher easily accessible to high risk areas such as the kitchen and fireplace.  Ensure that extension cords are UL-listed and connected to a fuse. Do not connect one extension cord to another. Electrical outlets are designed for a certain amount of power demand, and the use of multiple outlet extension cords can easily overload a circuit.  Never place a halogen floor lamp where it could come in contact with draperies, clothing or other combustible materials, and remove them entirely from children’s bedrooms. Children may play with lamps or place combustibles, such as stuffed toys or clothing, too close to the bulb.  Do not leave children alone around open flames, stoves, or candles.  Keep matches, gasoline, lighters, paint thinners and other flammable materials out of children's reach, away from sources of heat, and outside of the home.  Make sure your space heater has a tip-over switch that shuts it off automatically if it accidentally turns over. Keep space heaters off of carpeting and at least three feet from draperies, blankets, and sofas.

Also, you should be aware that children set over 20,000 house fires every year. Take the time to teach your children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys. With a bit of vigilance and proper planning, you can help protect your home, and your children, from fire.