Happy Holiday’s! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas, this is the most joyous time of the year! So, while you're preparing the family feast or decorating your house with garland, we want to share with you and your family one of the most common causes of house fires in December, burning candles.
Candles are beautiful multifunctional items that are common in every household. From adding warm fragrance to a room or simply setting the mood, they are apart of our daily lives. So, how can candles be the cause of such great destruction?
The NFPA(National Fire Protection Association) reports, "from 2012 to 2016...8,200 home structure fires were started by candles per year." During the five years, "...an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries, and $264 million in direct property damage..." was caused by lit candles. How do these fires occur? The NFPA states that "three of every five home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left (or came too close) to a candle." These occurrences are increasingly found in bedrooms and are often due to candles being left lit after falling asleep. These numbers are alarming. But, before you throw out your lovely candles, there are a few tips to avoid potential fire hazards from happening:
- Do not light candles inside of bedrooms or sleeping areas.
- Avoid using candles during storms or power outages. Instead, use LED flashlights or lanterns. Flameless candles are also a great alternative.
- Keep candles 12 inches away from combustible materials(NFPA guidelines).
- Place all lit candles on a stable surface.
- Never leave lit candles around children.
- Always keep a proper fire extinguisher available when lighting an object. If a fire occurs, only extinguish the flames if safe to do so.
To learn more about the dangers of candles and how to keep you and your family safe, visit https://www.nfpa.org/candles .
To download a safety sheet click here: https://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/public-education/resources/safety-tip-sheets/candlesafetytips.pdf?la=en
Your pets "fire safety plan" should establish roles for each family member who is capable of helping locate and save them. By assigning these jobs ahead, it removes the panic and stress of having to develop these roles during a fire.
It is common for a fire to occur when no one is home with your pet. In the event your pet is home alone, keep them near entrance ways, and make sure they are wearing collars with proper tags. These simple steps make finding and saving them easier and reduce the possibility of them hiding in unreachable places. Another way to protect your pet is by creating a fire "safety pack," including anything they might need after the fire. Unfortunately, a house fire can sometimes mean relocating you and your family members to a hotel or another home until your house is deemed safe to return. However, your beloved pet may be unwelcomed at your temporary space. Because of this, It wise to plan for a reliable home your pet can go to in case you are unable to bring them with you after a fire occurs. In all, everyone's collective knowledge on what to do in the event of an unexpected fire can be the difference between your pets life and death.
* If you and your family members are unable to locate or reach your pet, never put yourself in the position of severe harm by trying to save them.*
Getting your high school grad ready for college?
By now, you've started(or hopefully finished) checking off anything and everything your child needs for their first year away from home. But before you put away that list, it's important to talk with your new grownup about fire safety. “USFA reported a staggering 85 fatal fires occurring within a dormitory, fraternity/sorority and off-campus housing that resulted in 118 deaths over the course of just 16 academic years(2000-2015)! It was found that fire sprinklers failed to be installed in the "safe spaces” and ultimately led to these unfortunate events.” While schools do their absolute best to protect their students from harm, it is wise to always keep a fire safety plan in place and educate your child on how to protect themselves in the event of a ! (Conroy, Mark “College Campus Fire Safety” Article)
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