Happy 2021!  As you list out your resolutions for the New Year, don’t forget about adding home safety resolutions to your list.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, “75% of all fire deaths and 73% of all injuries were caused by home fires in 2019 and a home fire occurs every 93 seconds.”

Follow these tips to ring in Home Fire Safety:

  • Make sure your home is protected by working smoke alarms. Half of all home fire deaths happen at night, when people are sleeping.
  • Test your smoke alarms once a month, and replace your smoke alarms when they’re 10 years old.
  • Cooking is the main cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Make safety your first ingredient; stay in the kitchen when you are cooking at high temperatures. Fires start when the heat gets too high. If you see any smoke or grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
  • Candle with care. Unattended candles are an obvious fire danger. When you leave a room, blow out the candle. Or consider using flameless candles.
  • If you have children living in your home or visiting look for fire and burn dangers from their point of view. Never leave lighters or matches where children can reach them.
  • Practice fire drills at home. More fires happen in the home than they do at school, yet fire drills are practiced monthly at learning institutions. Select a meeting place. Discuss what to do about windows. And instill in children never to hide when there is a fire.  (Source:  https://www.merwinpaolazzi.com/fires-afety-nj/)