Home Safety 101 - Cooking Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has put together a list of safety tips.  By following a few safety tips you can prevent these fires. “Cook with Caution”  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.  • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.  • If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small (grease) cooki...

  Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a great flyer for you to download on Smoke Alarms that covers all this information on it.  SAFETY TIPS  Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound. Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined. Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate fal...

Most of the U.S. is at risk for winter storms, which can cause dangerous and sometimes life-threatening conditions. Blinding wind-driven snow, extreme cold, icy road conditions, downed trees and power lines can all wreak havoc on our daily schedules. Home fires occur more in the winter than in any other season, and heating equipment is involved in one of every six reported home fires, and one in every five home fire deaths. Know what to do before, during and after a storm. This will help keep you and your family safe from a winter fire. Safety Tips Test all smoke alarms. Do this at least once a month. This way you will know they are working. Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Test the alarms. Plan two ways out of the home in case of an emergency. Clear driveway and front walk of ice and snow. This will provide easy access to your home. Make sure your house number can be seen from the street. If you need help, firefighters will be able to find you. Be ready in case the power g...

This time of the year the weather brings a chill into your home. Portable space heaters have become a popular way to supplement central heating or to heat one room. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has come up with information on the risks of Portable Space Heaters. I am forwarding this information onto you and your family. Two in five deaths in space heater fires involve portable electric heaters. The  NFPA has a great flyer for you to download on Portable Space Heaters that covers all this information on it.  If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, make sure to follow these tips and recommendations: Heater Checklist Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory. Keep the heater at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from anything that can burn, including people. Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection. Place the heater on a solid, flat surface. Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it ti...