|
Sadly, many house fires start due to simple
carelessness on the part of the people living in the home. A lit
cigarette falls onto the couch and no one notices. A space heater
is left too close to the curtains and causes them to ignite. Food
is left unattended while cooking to start a raging kitchen fire.
These three scenarios are responsible for many deaths each year.
It is the duty of everyone in the family to learn all they can about
home safety guidelines in an effort to reduce the staggering number
of fatalities in this country. Last year’s (2008) Fire Prevention
Month theme was “Prevent Home Fires,” in an effort to
get the message out to everyone to take more care at home and stop
these tragic accidents.
A kitchen fire can be started by an overheated
pot that suddenly bursts into flames, or by a dishcloth left on
a stove top element. These fires, fueled by cooking oil or gas,
send out a rush of flames that can quickly spread through the
rest of the house. A fire fueled by flammable liquids can engulf
the room in seconds, so it is vital that you never leave the kitchen
while there is food cooking on the stove top. If you do need to
step out, its best to be cautious and just turn off the stove.
This type of fire contains little smoke and may be out of control
before the average home smoke detector signals. It is a good idea
to install a wireless photoelectric smoke detector in the kitchen
as it is more sensitive to flame than smoke.
While fires do account for most deaths in the
home, carbon monoxide poisoning also causes hundreds of cases
of serious illness and death. This silent killer is often caused
by faulty appliances, such as a leak in a gas water heater, and
even cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide. Some carbon monoxide
detectors are strictly battery powered while others can be plugged
into any regular electrical outlet. Some gas detectors such as
a unit sold by First Alert have features that also detect natural
gas and propane. With increased technology Kidde has produced
the Nighthawk carbon monoxide detector, which is now one of its
most popular models featuring a continuous digital display.
If you are concerned about cigarette smoking in
your home, it is possible to buy a cigarette smoke detector. Similar
to those installed in airplane washrooms, these units are triggered
as soon as the cigarette is lit. They are ideal for use in schools
or hospitals as well. The alarm can be audible or send a text
message to your cell phone for stealth monitoring.
Each home should have several extinguishers throughout
the house, especially in the kitchen. Checking it regularly for
rust damage and leakage can ensure that proper pressure is maintained
and it is fire fighting ready. You should take the fire extinguisher
in for service if it does show damage or needs to be refilled
after use.
|
