Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention is essential. Now that almost everything is electronic, a fire can easily destroy important documents and ruin information. Not everyone keeps their computer in a fire proof box. Most computer equipment is extremely expensive, yet it is not protected from fire damage.

You can lower the risk of a house fire by eliminating these risky situations:

Frayed or split electrical cords
Electrical outlets that have too many things plugged into them
Portable heaters near anything flammable
Gasoline or Kerosene stored indoors or in containers not meant for storing fuels
Matches and lighters within the reach of children
Candles left unattended and/or lit candles not placed in a fire proof dish

Following these few safety rules won't guarantee a fire safe house but it will reduce the risk of fire.

There are three main causes of a housefire. The following list includes the danger and a few prevention tips.

Careless Cooking is a problem because many foods are flammable. Oil and Grease can ignite if the temperature is too high. Liquids that boil over can get on the burner and ignite or cause the burner to ignite. Point all pan handles toward the center or the back of the stove, overhanging handles could be tipped by children.

Kids And Matches are a deadly combination. Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children; a high shelf or locked a cabinet is the best place.

Smoking is not only hazardous to your health and that of others but it could set your house on fire. Ask your parents not to smoke in bed or while resting on the couch. A misplaced cigarette could easily start a fire. Keep large ashtrays around the house and empty them into the toilet, not the waste basket where they could smolder for hours then burst into flame.

Most people wonder what they would do if their house caught on fire, here is a hypothetical situation:

You go to bed early because tomorrow is the first day of school. After a few hours of sleep a strange buzzing penetrates the fuzzy haze of dreamland. You slowly regain consciousness and realize it's the smoke alarm! Your mind races back to Fire Safety Month at school. You learned to keep your cool and think through your actions. You take a deep breath and roll out of bed and onto the floor because, your mind reminds you, "The floor is the coolest, smoke and heat rise". You picture your way out: "Through the door, down the hallway and out the front door" A picture of your mother flashes through your mind saying "The smoke may be thick, you don't want to get lost in your own house, do you?" You crawl across the room to your dresser and pull out your favorite T-Shirt. You fold it into fourths and wrap it around your nose and mouth. "To keep out the smoke," your teacher says as another picture floats through your mind. You wonder if you'll ever see her again. Now you crawl to your door and put your hand on it to see if it is hot. It isn't, so you cautiously open the door and crawl out. On your way down the hallway you smell a trace of smoke coming from the kitchen and you are tempted to see what caused the fire, but you know that you should go outside by the big Tuliptree and wait for the rest of your family. So you keep crawling. After you reach the front door you stand up and run to the tree. Your family is waiting under the tree, but as you get closer you notice your father isn't there. You run up to your mother with a worried look on your face and she explains, "I think I forgot to turn the oven off when I finished baking the pizza. Your father went inside to check. He should be out in a minute." Just as she finishes, your dad appears on the porch and yells "All clear! Come on in." Once inside you sit at the table and discuss what happened over a cup of hot cocoa. You all agree that it was an interesting and enriching experience.

THE END

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