Home Safe Home

MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Aug 29, 2013) - (Family Features) The cooler temperatures of fall may be on their way, but cooler weather also brings an increase in home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than half (54 percent) of home structure fire deaths occur in the cooler months of November through March.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recommends that every household have an escape plan in place, yet, in a recent survey by Omnibus, 44 percent of people reported that they did not have an escape plan for their home.

On average, families have less than three minutes from the time the first smoke alarm sounds to escape a fire.

"Every second counts when it comes to escaping a home fire," said Chief Metcalf, president and chairman of the IAFC. "That's why families need to have an escape plan in place, and ensure they have working smoke alarms to provide those critical early warning signals in the event of a home fire.

The "Change Your Clock Change Your Battery" program aims to help keep families safe by sharing the reminder to replace the batteries in your home's smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors each year when you change your clocks for daylight saving time. It's part of the Energizer philosophy -- that's positivenergy -- which represents the company's commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Here are some additional tips from the IAFC and Energizer to help protect your family room by room.

Make a Plan
Draw a floor plan of your home and find two ways out of every room. Sketch the exit routes clearly on the floor plan. A downloadable escape plan grid can be found on the Energizer Bunny Facebook page. If an upstairs window is one of the escape options, make sure you have a fire escape ladder long enough to reach the ground. Make sure every adult knows how to use it. Adults should be responsible for helping younger children. Assign an outside meeting place so if the family escapes from different routes, you can quickly locate each other.

Use the following checklist to eliminate as many fire hazards in your home as possible:

Bedrooms
In a recent study, almost half (44 percent) of families did not know the peak time for home fire fatalities is when most people are asleep (between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.). So, in addition to making sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within hearing distance of your bedrooms, take the below steps to fire-proof the bedrooms themselves:
--Do not trap electrical cords against walls. Heat can build up, posing a fire hazard.
--Use only lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Make sure cords are not worn or coming apart. Do not leave electric blankets switched on all night unless they are marked "suitable for all night use."
--Keep bedding, curtains and other combustible items at least three feet away from space heaters.
--Never smoke in bed.
--Replace mattresses made before the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. By law, mattresses made since then are required to be safer.
--Have a working smoke alarm in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.

Living Room
--Do not overload electrical outlets.
--Never run electrical cords under carpets.
--Check all electrical cords for fraying or other signs of damage.
--Only light decorative candles when adults are in the room. Use stable candle holders that will not catch fire. Blow candles out when you leave.
--During a power failure, do not use candles or oil lamps for light. Keep battery-operated flashlights and lanterns in easily accessible places. Candles used for light in the absence of electrical power cause one-third of fatal home candle fires.
--Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in each room, including the living room.

Kitchen
Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States, according to research by the National Fire Protection Agency.
--Never use extension cords to plug in cooking appliances. They can overload the circuit and start a fire.
--Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
--Keep anything that can catch fire away from the cooktop. This includes potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels and curtains.
--Keep the cooktop, burners and oven clean.
--Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fitting clothing or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
--Have a fire extinguisher installed in or near your kitchen, and be sure every adult family member knows how to use it.

Garage
--Store all combustible materials away from regular sources of heat, such as water heaters, space heaters, boilers and furnaces.
--Keep wood finishes, spray paint, paint thinners and other flammable products in a dedicated storage container with a closed door.
--Store all combustible materials in their proper containers and be sure they are clearly marked.
--Keeping the garage tidy can also help keep it safe. Get rid of stacked boxes, newspapers, recycling and trash. They can be instant fuel for a fire.

To download your escape grid or get more information, visit www.facebook.com/energizerbunny.

Change Your Clock Change Your Battery
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, and marks the 26th anniversary of the "Change Your Clock Change Your Battery" program, created by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). This program reminds people to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks.

Other fire safety prevention measures include:
--Test your smoke alarms. Make sure all alarms work by pushing the test buttons.
--Clean the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Ensure the sensitivity of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by cleaning them each month with a vacuum.
--Count Your Smoke Alarms. Be sure there is at least one smoke alarm installed on every level of your home, including one in every bedroom and outside of each sleeping area.
--Change Your Flashlight Batteries. Keep flashlights with fresh batteries at your bedside for help in finding the way out and signaling for help in the event of a fire.
--Replace your smoke alarms. The IAFC recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and having a combination of both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms to keep you alert to all types of home fires.

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