| The arrival of the winter season brings with it the | | | | fire safety and formulate an exit plan to follow in |
| need to keep ourselves and our homes warm. It | | | | the event of a fire. |
| also brings with it the increased potential for injury | | | | Smoke alarms are essential and should be installed |
| from fire. This is a very real concern because | | | | on every floor of ones' home and in or near each |
| each year more people die in fires than in | | | | bedroom. They should be tested monthly and |
| hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and every other | | | | batteries replaced at least yearly. The smoke that |
| natural disaster combined. | | | | accompanies fire is poisonous and can cause |
| The more we learn about how to protect | | | | someone who is sleeping to settle into a deeper |
| ourselves and our loved ones from possible injury | | | | sleep leading to suffocation. |
| or death from the effects of fire, the better. | | | | If portable space heaters are used in the home |
| Many of the fires that cause serious injury and | | | | remember to:a. keep them at a distance of at |
| death start in the kitchen area of our homes. | | | | least 3 feet from anything flammableb. turn them |
| Faulty appliances and negligence are the cause of | | | | off before sleeping or leaving the roomc. |
| hundreds of deaths each year. Some cautions to | | | | supervise children who are in the area at all times |
| consider are:a. never leave something cooking on | | | | Having a fire in the fireplace or wood stove can |
| the cook top unattendedb. keep cooking areas | | | | be very pleasant but keep in mind the following |
| clean of grease build-upc. do not store flammable | | | | safety tips:a. burn only seasoned hardwood or |
| items near the stove aread. turn pot handles | | | | specially manufactured fire logsb. hire a chimney |
| toward the center of the cook top to avoid | | | | sweep to inspect and repair chimneysc. keep |
| spillse. heat up cooking oil slowly | | | | flammables at least 3 feet awayd. open fireplace |
| One of the most frightening aspects of fire is | | | | flues |
| how quickly it can spread. A fire can consume an | | | | Research indicates that 8 out of every 10 fires |
| entire home in less than five minutes of the time | | | | are preventable. Keep your home safe and warm |
| the fire first started so it is imperative to get out | | | | this winter season taking precautions to avoid |
| of the home quickly. Experts caution to never go | | | | needless injury. |
| back into a burning building. Educate your family on | | | | |