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Are You Prepared In Case Of Fire? The best preparation for fire is to prevent it. If a fire occurs in spite of all your efforts, know exactly how to escape.
Fire Prevention in the Kitchen, Where Many Fires Start
• With some obvious exceptions (such as turkey roasting),don't leave the kitchen while something is cooking, because you might become occupied and forget until it's too late. • Use a loud-ring timer to remind you when to turn off burners. • Don't wear loose-fitting clothing; especially avoid loose-fitting sleeves. • Roll up long sleeves. • Don't hang flammable items such as curtains or dish towels, near the stove. • Keep stove surfaces free of clutter and built-up grease. • Don't cook if you're drowsy or have been drinking. • DO NOT pour water on a grease fire. Smother it. If it's in a cooking pot, use a pot holder to slide a cover over the pan. Leave it in place until it cools. If You Allow Smoking in the House • Provide smokers with large, deep non-tip ashtrays. • Don't place ash trays in unstable locations such as chair arms. • Wet down ashtray contents before emptying into a wastebasket. • Never smoke in bed. Fire Prevention Throughout the House • Install smoke detectors near or in all sleeping areas and on every level of the house. • Carbon monoxide detectors are also desirable in some areas. • Test them monthly and change their batteries in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. • If you go on vacation, test the detectors when you return. • Keep heaters of all kinds several feet from anything flammable, including you. And of course, don't operate them on carpeting. • Make sure each heater has a "tip switch". W. A. Shapiro
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8/26/04-20400