Indoor Fire Safety

Do you know where your home's fire safety "hot spots" are? If not, it's time to do your own home fire safety inspection.

R.C. Walter & Sons True Value hardware store has the products and expert advice you need to help you make your home as safe as possible for you and your family.
Step 1. Install Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms
It's extremely important to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Check and replace batteries in each at least twice a year or use alarms powered by lithium batteries that last for 10 years.

Helpful Tip:
Because many fires occur at night, make sure you have smoke alarms in bedrooms and hallways near bedrooms.
Step 2. Prepare Your Family Members & Plan Ahead
If you have a family, it is essential to teach each member about fire safety practices. Discuss a plan that includes at least two ways of escaping each room in your home. Teach your children the "Stop, Drop and Roll" technique of putting out a fire on their clothes or hair.

Install fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage and basement and teach your family how to use them. To operate a fire extinguisher, remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the handle and Sweep from side-to-side to extinguish the flames. Recharge all extinguishers after any test.
Step 3. Fireplace Safety
Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned annually. Make sure it is properly vented to the outside and inspect for any leaks in the exhaust pipe. Clean your chimney regularly with special rods and brushes designed for chimney sweeping or hire a professional.
Step 4. Electrical Safety
Do not use electric appliances near water or close to faucets or water pipes. Do not use electric appliances while bathing or washing dishes. If an appliance falls into water, double check to ensure it is unplugged before you retrieve it.

Check all of your appliances for worn plugs or cracked wires. Do not attempt to make your own repairs unless you are an expert. Unplug appliances when they are not in use.

Do not use oversized fuses or circuit breakers; doing so will not allow the circuit to hold more or enhance the performance of appliances. In fact, this may actually cause overheating and lowered efficiency.

Always remove extension cords by the plug, not by tugging on the cord. Never break the ground prong of a 3-prong plug to make it fit in a 2-prong outlet. Make unused outlets childproof by inserting pronged covers.
Visit R.C. Walter & Sons True Value hardware store for additional indoor fire safety advice and product suggestions.