Safety knowledge of household appliances is one of the key elements to home and family safety. The last thing you want is to be in an accident with one of your appliances, because you did not have the correct safety know-how. The appliances that we use in our home every day are potentially dangerous if used incorrectly. By following a few simple steps, you can gain the necessary safety knowledge for every appliance in your house.
First, set your thermostat to the proper setting. Turn off the power to the breaker box before turning on the power switch. If there are any electrical wires visible, wrap them in a towel or some other material so that they do not come into contact with the heater, which can cause a fire. It is also advisable to use a smoke detector. If a fire does start, you will have time to get to safety before the fire gets too large.
Make sure that all of your plugged-in appliances are unplugged before turning them on, even those that appear to be working. Do not use gas or electric appliances while they are plugged in. In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, the breaker box or furnace may be the only element of the house that can remain operational. If all other appliances go down, there will not be a means for you to get to safety. Do not risk staying in your home while a fire eats away at it.
Many children have been killed or seriously injured by fire in the past, even when the child was never near a source of heat or fire. Children should always be kept as far away from a fire as possible, especially when you have young children and are unable to remain indoors. Children have a need to feel safe and secure in their own houses.
Always supervise a child when it is playing outside. A child who knows that he or she is playing with a toy is not going to be as likely to try to play with a fire. Keep the toy away from the body of the child. Even a child who knows that he or she is in danger when playing with fire cannot remain calm if there is an open flame close.
Never leave safety signs in plain view, where a small child could reach them. Some people put safety signs around the edges of their lawns, but they should be placed in obvious places, such as a child's bedroom or a fire extinguisher. You should also never leave any safety signs in the vehicle of anyone else.
Always keep your fire extinguisher close by, even when you are not using it. There have been many tragic stories where children have fallen dead in their homes after a fire was started by an unattended lit fireplace. It is absolutely important for you and your family to learn about fire safety and never play with a lit flame. Once you have a family member or child suffering a fire, you must do everything in your power to stop the fire from spreading before it reaches any household items.
Always allow children to play in a well-ventilated area, away from any loose or flammable materials that could catch fire easily. Children's flammable objects include everything from pencils and bicycles to stuffed animals. These safety devices must be regularly inspected and replaced, so that they do not pose a hazard to your child. You can learn more about children's safety habits, as well as fire safety tips, from the American Society for Fire Protection, which is a division of the United States Fire Administration.
