By Samuetta Hill Drew
Fire Safety prevention is again the focal topic this week. It is the second in a three part series of fire safety. It is extremely sad that since last week’s article two additional local individuals have lost their lives to a home fire and others have experienced complete and/or partial loss of their personal property. Remember home fires are one of the most preventable fires so let’s review some more important fire safety prevention measures.
Let’s discuss fire safety prevention measures for smokers and the rules to follow when using a portable space heater. These two are very common occurrences.
Smoking Safety Tips:
- If you smoke, please smoke outside. A large number of home fires are caused by smoking materials started inside the home. Put your cigarettes out in a can filled with sand.
- Make sure your cigarettes and ashes are completely out. They really need to be stubbed out in an ashtray. Soak cigarettes butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. NEVER TOSS HOT CIRAGETTE BUTTS OR ASHES IN THE TRASH CAN!
- Check for cigarettes butts. Chairs and sofas catch on fire fast and also burn fast. Don’t put ashtrays on them or underneath them. If people have been smoking in the home, check for butts between or under the cushions.
- NEVER smoke in a home where oxygen is used because it can be very explosive. It makes the fire burn hotter and faster.
- NEVER SMOKE IN THE BED especially if you’ve been drinking or just taken nightly medicines.
Portable Space Heaters:
- Keep combustible objects at least 3-5 feet away from the heater.
- Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Check to make sure your heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will stich off automatically if the heater falls over.
- Check your local fire departments on the legality of using kerosene heaters.
- Only use crystal clear k-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters. Never overfill it! Use the heater in a well ventilated room.
As we go about our daily routines of cooking (previously discussed), smoking or heating our homes/rooms for heat, let’s always Keep an Eye on Safety
