Keeping Families Safe Around The House (NAPSA)—Relaxing with your family and keeping everyonesafe and secure may be even easier after you complete a quick home safety audit. Here are some safety suggestions from the American Furni- ture Manufacturers Association: 1. In with the new. Review the manufacturer’s tags on new outdoor furnishings for important safety information. 2. Out with the old. Examine older outdoor furnishings for surfaces that may have become splintered or rusted. Look for bent or broken mechanisms. Repair or replace damaged pieces. 3. No safety in numbers. Reclining chairs and loungers used on decks and patios should be used by one person at a time. Children should not be allowed to play on them. 4. Toys and glass-top tables don’t mix. Children should never play on or near glass-top tables. 5. Brush up on umbrella safety. Review operating instruc- tions for your market umbrella. Don’t allow children to play with or operate it and makesureit is adequately weighted to prevent tipping over. Always close and store your umbrella when storms are in the forecast. 6. Conduct an indoor furniture audit. Look for worn out pieces that need repair or replacement, such as chairs or tables with loose joinery, surfaces that have become splintered; doors or drawers that do not operate properly; and shelves that sag and could break orfall. 7. Plan for proper disposal. Broken chairs, discarded mat- tresses and other unused furniture can be a hazard whenleft anywhere children play. Plan for prompt and appropriate disposal. 8. Take a stand on TV safety. One size does not fit all when it comes to TV stands and cabinets. If your TV is improperly secured or positioned on a piece of furni- ture not specifically designed to house televisions, it may tip over. 9. Eliminate clutter. Lessen the likelihood of falls by providing ample storage for clutter in the form of toy boxes, book shelves, baskets and cabinets. Storage and toy chests need safety latches. 10. Review fire safety rules. Don’t leave matches, candles, fireworksor grill lighters within kids’ reach. If you are planning to buy any new upholstery, make sure it has the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) hangtag, which ensures it was manufactured to meet the industry’s voluntary fire safety standards. 11. Tune into electronics safety. If the area around your computer or television has begun to look like a spaghetti bowl of wiring, you have a potential hazard both to your family and your electronics. Consider new furnishings designed to house electronics and all the accompanying wiring or create a new arrangement to prevent tripping hazards. 12. Reinforce the rules for overnights. Children should never be allowed to play or climb on furniture, especially on bunk beds, shelving units or dressers.
