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Protect Your Home from Fire
By Deborah C. Gerbers
House fires can be terrifying and deadly, yet preventable when you implement the right safety precautions. According to the American Red Cross, if a fire starts in your home, you may have as little as two minutes to escape. The best chance for a safe escape is early warning from a working smoke alarm, along with a practiced fire escape plan. Read on for how to keep your home and family safe from fires.
Basic fire prevention is key to a safe home. Unattended candles, stoves and cooking units, and small space heaters contribute to many house fires. Make sure to use candles with caution — don’t let them burn for longer than a couple of hours at a time, blow them out completely when you leave a room, and place them away from pets and small children who might be able to knock them over. Be sure to turn off stovetop burners after cooking, don’t leave the oven on, and keep flammables like towels and dishrags away from hot surfaces. In winter months, if using space heaters, keep the units away from walls, rugs, beds, and anything else that could catch fire. Use the lowest setting possible and always turn them off when you’re not present.
Working smoke detectors are another way to alert your family if there is a fire in the house. Make sure to check batteries monthly and
ensure the detector is functioning properly. Mount smoke detectors in kitchens, hallways, and all sleeping areas so your whole family will be able to hear the signal day or night.
Fire extinguishers can be literal lifesavers if necessary to put out small house fires. Be sure to check and ensure the extinguisher is still functioning (not “expired”), and educate yourself and your family how to use it properly. Fire extinguishers should be placed in kitchens, by machinery like workshop saws and sanders in the garage, and anywhere else a fire might be prone to occur.
A family fire escape plan is also important to ensure everyone in the home is on the same page about how to get out and escape quickly. As stated earlier, escaping to safety may come down to a matter of minutes, so make sure to practice the plan regularly. You may also consider a folding fire escape ladder for second-story bedrooms.
Quick tips for an escape plan:
• Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home. • Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go! • Decide where to meet once you get outside. • Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets, or things. • If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. So, time your fire drills and find out: what’s your escape time? (redcross.org)
Resources:
American Red Cross, Redcross.org Koorsen Fire & Security, Koorsen.com
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home maintenance Autumn checklist
By Haiden Hibbert
It’s that time of year again when the leaves are changing color, days are getting shorter, and colder weather is coming. That means it’s time to get your home ready for winter. Here are some things you can do now to prepare your home for the season.
oSpray weed killer around the edges of your lawn. o Keep your lawn watered during the fall months to help it retain its green color. o Apply fertilizer in early October before the ground freezes to ensure healthy grass growth for next spring. o Cut down any tall or dead plants, branches, or leaves that might be blocking sunlight from reaching the ground. o Spread mulch over your yard in early fall so it can absorb excess water and nutrients from rainstorms throughout the year. o Remove any tree debris from sidewalks, driveways, and other areas where it will be an inconvenience when you mow the lawn later in fall. o Reseed bare patches in high traffic areas like sidewalks and patios. o Rake leaves out of flower beds and lawns before they decompose into mulch to avoid pests overwintering in them.
lawn garden
oTrim back perennials that have finished blooming or add mulch around them so they don’t freeze over during the colder months. o Prune off any dead branches on trees and shrubs to protect them from rotting during cold weather. o Weed flower beds - pull out any weeds that are coming up in your garden beds. o Add compost or other organic matter to your beds to provide nutrients for your plants and prepare them for spring planting season. o Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the ground. This will also help prevent weeds from growing. o Plant bulbs in pots with an early frost date (November).
