Fire Safety
It doesn't take a lot of smarts to know that Christmas tree lights on a dry tree are a fire hazard. It should be obvious, too, that smoking in bed is a no-no. The proof lies in the telltale hole or singed spot on a comforter, blanket, pillowcase, or sheet. What if you'd fallen asleep?
Matches and lighters must be kept from little fingers. Just because a parent has trouble igniting a safety match or operating a child-resistant lighter doesn't mean toddlers won't succeed on the first or second try. Also, don't run electrical cords under carpeting!
Few people consider what happens when the family cat hops onto the end table and its tail brushes a burning candle. Or when the cat spends a few minutes grooming itself with its tale draped over the pot of burning incense. Once Miss Kitty feels the heat of the flames, it races through the house, spreading the fire.
Given how inexpensive smoke detectors are, there's no excuse not to have them. Here are a few safety tips about smoke detectors:
Position smoke detectors outside every bedroom (inside if the door is kept closed at night) and on each level of the home.
Make sure the smoke detector is working by depressing the test button once a month.
Vacuum cobwebs and dust from the alarms monthly.
Replace batteries at least once a year.
Replace the alarms every ten years.
In the kitchen, install knob covers on the range so toddlers can't turn the stove on. Then, when cooking, make it harder for your toddler to reach hot pans or skillets by using the back burners of the stove. Always turn the handles of pans and skillets toward the back so they are less likely to be bumped by the cook or grabbed by a little hand with a long reach.
And, since fires can and do happen despite everyone's best efforts to prevent them:
Buy fire extinguishers that can be used against both electrical and liquid flames. Get the kind that shows the remaining pressure. When it's reading low, replace the unit.
Create a fire escape plan by walking into each room and figuring out how you could get yourself and your child to safety if you were trapped there.
When shopping for safe pajamas, look for the brands that are flame-resistant and fit snugly. Loose-fitting cotton T-shirts catch fire easily and burn quickly. The main culprits, responsible for 200 serious sleepwear accidents each year, are candles, matches, lighters, and stove burners. Beware of dangling sleeves!
