Spooky luminaries and jack-o-lanterns with candles burning inside are wonderful for setting the scene at Halloween, but don't let them cause a fire.
The National Fire Safety Protection Association suggests using a moisture-proof flashlight or battery-operated candle inside a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children and pets are watched at all times when candles are lit, and teach them to avoid open flames.
Decorations are the first thing to ignite in more than 1,000 reported home fires each year, according to the association. Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable and should be kept away open flames and heat sources such as light bulbs and heaters. Also, keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
Be sure children know how to stop, drop and roll if their costume or other clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put out the flames. Avoid costumes with billowing or long trailing fabric, and make sure the child can see well out of a mask.
October is National Fire Prevention Month, and beyond Halloween, it's a good time to make sure your home and loved ones stay safe. Keep the home fires burning -- but safely in your fireplace, heater or oven. Here are six smart fire prevention tips from The Family Handyman magazine.
1. Know your ABC’s: Fire extinguishers are rated A, B, or C: Class A extinguishers are designed for fires involving wood, paper or cloth; Class B extinguishers are for fires from grease, gasoline, chemical solvents and other oils; Class C extinguishers address fires stemming from electrical equipment. Although ABC-rated extinguishers are a bit more expensive, invest in these multipurpose models and keep one in every room of your house near an exit.
2. Don’t overextend yourself: Extension cords are meant to be temporary and, when used improperly, can cause dangerous circuit overloads. Always plug devices into permanent wall outlets whenever possible. This is especially true for space heaters — which are quite popular during these colder months — since most extension cords don’t have sufficient capacity to power them.
3. Ring the alarm: Check your smoke detectors once a month by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds or holding the smoking wick of a just-lit candle near it. If the alarm doesn’t sound in 30 seconds, it’s time to replace the battery. Also, remember to change the battery annually (doing it on your birthday is a smart way to remember) and vacuum the detector’s interior twice a year.
4. Keep it behind closed doors: During a fire, a closed door can mean the difference between life and death. Make it a habit to sleep with your door closed, so fires that start in another room will be hindered from getting to you before you awake. You can also install self-closing hinges or automatic door closers on service entrances such as the one between your home and garage.
5. Avoid under-the-radar risks: In addition to obviously dangerous items like flammable chemicals, don’t keep piles of newspapers or oily cloths indoors. If they become too warm, they may catch fire through spontaneous combustion.
6. Save lives with incense: A gas-powered furnace or water heater needs air to properly exhaust, and a house that’s too airtight prevents it from getting the amount it requires. Back-drafting is a dangerous condition in which flue gases are sucked down the furnace or chimney, allowing deadly carbon monoxide to linger indoors. Follow these steps to test things out:
* Close all windows, doors and your fireplace damper while turning on all household exhaust fans;
* Power up the furnace, water heater and any other vented gas appliances;
* Stand by for 10 minutes to allow drafts to stabilize, and then hold an incense stick below the air intake of your furnace on the burner draft hood;
* If the smoke is pulled up into the hood, you’ve got enough fresh air for safe operation. If the smoke blows away from the hood, back drafting is in effect. Call your utility company immediately.
Alternatively, call in a professional to check for this condition when your furnace is serviced.
Additional DIY tips, product recommendations and more can be found online at familyhandyman.com or in The Family Handyman magazine.