Protect Your Home From Fire

House fires are more common than we think, so there’s no time like the present to stop and evaluate the different fire-safety measures you have in and around your home and to make sure everything is up-to-date. Here are a few simple fire prevention tips to tackle on the weekend:

• Ensure your smoke detectors are working. Check them once a month, clean them every six months and change the batteries at least once a year. For added safety, install smoke alarms on all levels of your home, primarily near bedrooms.

• Make sure all of your electrical appliances and cords have a recognized seal of approval. It’s also a good idea to use appliances that have an automatic shut-off.

• Check electrical cords, replacing ones that are cracked or frayed. Also, never overload electrical outlets or use extension cords to replace additional outlets.

• Check your residential fire extinguisher and ensure it is stored in an easy to access location in case of emergency. When renovating or building, use fire resistant materials to increase the level of safety in the home, like a quality Roxul product called Safe n’ Sound insulation. Materials like this are excellent fire barriers that will delay the spread of fire.

by Scott McGillivray

www.newscanada.com