=SAFE Easy Tips To Make Warm-Weather Home Safety A Breeze (NAPSA)—Your family’s awareness of common hazards around the house should never take a by providing ample storage for clutter in the form of toy boxes, bookshelves, decorative baskets and cabinets. If you have small vacation. To ensure warm-weather days are free of any accidents and emergencies, the American Home children, you should select lowerheight bookshelves and anchor them to the wall. Do not overload shelves, and never store toys or “treats” in high places that will Furnishings Alliance offers this quick homesafety checklist: 1.In with the new. If you’ve purchased new outdoor furnishings, review the manufacturer’s tags for important safety information. Save tags with care and maintenance instructions, as well as contact information for replacement pieces or components. 2.Out with the old. Examine older outdoor furnishings for surfaces that may have becomesplintered or rusted. Look for bent or broken mechanisms. Repair or replace damaged pieces to prevent injuries. 3.Party of one on the re- cliner, please. Just like indoor recliners, the outdoor versions should be used by only one person at a time. Children should never play or climb onrecliners. 4,Don’t mix toys and tabletops. Outdoor tabletops are often constructed of tile or tempered glass for added strength. Nevertheless, children should never be allowed to play on tabletops with toys that could potentially shatter the surface. 5.Be open to reviewing um- tempt youngsters to climb to reach them. 10. Update your family’s fire safety plan. Don’t leave matches, candles, fireworks or grill lighters within kids’ reach. If you buy new upholstery, be sure it has a UFAC hangtag ensuring it was manufactured to meet industry safety standards. replacement, such as chairs or tables with loose joinery; surfaces that have become splintered; doors or drawers that do not oper- ate properly; and shelves that sag and could break orfall. 7.Just dump it. Broken chairs, discarded mattresses and unused furniture can become a serious hazard when left any- 6.Plan an indoor furniture checkup, too. Search for worn- out pieces that need repair or family and your electronic equipment. Consider new furnishings specifically designed to house elec- never be allowed to play or climb on furniture, especially on bunk beds, dressers or shelving units. If your children are young, consider a friendly review of these rules ping over. Always close and store the forecast. wires upon wires, you have a potential hazard—both to your 8.Take a stand on TVsafety. When upgrading your television, also upgrade your T'V cabinetry. If check. to house televisions, it may tip over. Never allow children to your umbrella when storms are in area around your computer or television resembles a jungle of tronics and manage accompanying your television is improperly secured or inappropriately posi- umbrella, and make sureit is adequately weighted to prevent tip- fire safety standards. 11. Tune in, but safely. If the where that children play—including in a basement or garage. Plan for prompt and appropriate disposal of any old or broken furnishings you find during your safety dren to play with or operate the brella safety. Don’t allow chil- If you buy any new upholstery, be sure it carries the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) hangtag, which ensures that the piece was manufactured to meet the industry’s voluntary tioned on furniture not designed climb on or play with furniture housing electronics. 9.Take control of clutter. Falls are a leading cause of injury in the home. Lessen the likelihood wiring, or create a new room arrangement to prevent tripping hazards. 12. Rules for the safest sleepovers. Children should with any new guest invited to spend the night. The American Home Furnishings Alliance represents more than 250 leading furniture manu- facturers and distributors, as well as 225 suppliers to the furniture industry.
