Prevent home fires: safety tips

From MetLife

Cooking fires:

• Avoid loose sleeves whiles cooking
• Keep curtains and other flammable items away from the range or oven
• Never put water on a grease fire (it can cause it to splatter, burning you or spreading the fire). Smother it with a lid or another pan and turn off the burner.

Portable and space-heating equipment

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment.
• Shut off heater before you leave or go to bed.
• Make sure the heater has been tested and approved by a reputable organization such as Underwriters Laboratories or the American Gas Association

Careless smoking

• Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths
• Never smoke in bed or in a place you may fall asleep.
• Use deep ashtrays
• Run water over an ashtray before emptying it into the trash.

Electrical wiring

• If lights dim or flicker, fuses blow frequently, or sparks shoot from receptacles when items are plugged in or unplugged, consult an electrician.
• Never run cords under rugs or heavy furniture.
• Don't overload outlets.
• Replace old fuse boxes with circuit breaker panels.

Children and matches

• Children playing with matches or lighters are the leading cause of fire deaths
• for children 5 and under.
• Keep these items high, preferably in a locked cabinet, out of the sight and reach of small children.
• Teach older children how to handle matches responsibly.

Holiday hazards

• If you buy a live Christmas tree, choose a fresh one and water it daily.
• If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it's made of flame-retardant materials.
• Keep candles away from anything that can burn, and blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed.

Other precautions

• Never store gasoline in the home.
• Keep small quantities in an approved container and store outside, preferably in a locked detached shed.
• Don't use light bulbs with greater wattages than a fixture can handle.
• Don't let combustible materials such as newspapers and rags pile up in basements and garages.
• Leave plenty of space around appliances and television sets