Timely Tips

As the temperatures fall, you may find yourself using portable heaters in your home to take the chill out of the air. Portable heating equipment is a wonderful, useful tool, but it poses a substantial fire risk if left too close to combustible items or if used incorrectly. Keep these quick tips in mind to keep your home and family safe while you stay warm in these colder months.

Did you know that there are about 47,000 home electrical fires every year? Overloaded power strips, improper use of extension cords, plugging in multiple appliances into the same wall outlet, exceeding recommended wattage for light bulbs, and not cleaning out the dryer vent are a few causes of these fires. Do all you can to recognize and eliminate the hazards in your home.

It is never too early to be prepared for emergencies. If there were a fire in your home, would every member of your family know what to do and where to go? Are you sure that your children will wake up to a beeping smoke alarm? Now is the time to make sure. Test the batteries in your smoke alarms. Make a Home Escape Plan and practice a home exit drill. Here are some tips to help.