lider Anericans How To Keep Home Fires From Burning (NAPS)—More than 350,000 fires occur each year andoften in the homes ofseniors.In fact, older adults are consistently more threatened with death or injury byfire than any other age group— but you can keep your homesafe by fol- lowing thesesafety tips. Heating Safety +Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. + Don'tuse your stove for heating, + Don't dry clothes on a space heater. + Haveyourheating system inspected by a qualified service professional atleast A few simple steps canhelpseniors once year. stay safe at home. *Make sure all fuel-burning heating equipmentis ventedtothe outside. + Keep intake and output vents clean andclear ofdebris and dust. Space Heaters + Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs orloose connections before each use. If anything is frayed, worn or damaged, don't use the heater. + Place space heaters onlevel, flat surfaces and outof high-traffic areas and doorways. + Plug portable space heaters directly into an outlet; don’t use an extension cord. + Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable. + Neverleave a space heaterunattended. Turn it off when youleave the room or goto sleep. Fireplaces and Wood Stoves + Have your chimney or wood stove inspected annually by a certified chim- ney specialist. + Use a fireplace screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. + Neverleave an openflameunattended. Cooking + Unattended cooking is the leading cause of homefires. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off thestove. Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Keepthestove top and ovenclean and free ofgrease and oil. Keep all flammable material away from heating elements. Keep towels and pot holders away from hotsurfaces. + Turnpothandlesin. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Place alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level ofyour home. *Don't put alarms near windows or ducts where drafts might interfere with theireffectiveness. + Never paint smoke alarms. + Test them at least once a month and changethebatteriesat least once year. + Keep smoke alarms at least 10 feet away from cooking appliancesto minimize false alarms. People who have difficulty hearing can get alarms that make low-pitched soundsorvibrations. Electrical Safety + Call anelectricianif you see a discoloredwall plate, smell burning,or hear a crackling or buzzing sound from wall switches orreceptacles. + Never plug two extension cordsinto eachother. + Makesureall appliances are plugged directly into a receptacle. +Dont run extension cords through walls or doorways. + Don't covercords. + Avoid nailing orstapling cords. + Don't substitute extension cords for permanentwiring. + Havea licensed electrician install an arcfault circuit interrupter (AFCI)cir- cuit breaker or receptacle. AFCIs can prevent50 percentof homefires. + Make sure all appliances have been approved by a nationally approved testing laboratory. + Have your home inspected by a licensed electrician every 10 years to determineifyou have the properelec- trical equipment. Learn More Forfurther facts andtips on safety, from the experts at Electrical Safety Foundation International, the premier nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to promotingelectrical safety at homeandin the workplace,visit www. esfiorg.
