October is National Fire Prevention Month * Landlords CHANGE Your Smoke Alarm Batteries!

October is National Fire Prevention Month, and with that in mind here are some resources to help you with fire prevention and safety in your Lancaster county home.

One of the best things about the Internet is that so many information resources that used to be difficult to obtain or just flat out unattainable are now at our fingertips.  The fire safety checklist below is compiled from some of these resources, and I’ve included some links to those resources as well for your convenience.

• When you’re cooking, always stay in the kitchen.
• Keep dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, curtains and anything that can burn at least three feet away from the range top.
• Keep grills at least 10 feet away from all other objects, including the house.
• Store lighters and matches in a locked cabinet to make them unattainable to children.
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper.  Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Have chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces inspected once a year and cleaned when necessary.
• Make a fire escape plan for your family with two exits out of every room.  Pick a meeting place outside.  Hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.  There are two kinds of smoke alarm sensors – photoelectric and ionization.  Try to buy some of each kind or get “combination” smoke alarms with both kinds of sensors.
• Put smoke alarms inside or near every bedroom.  Test monthly to make sure they work. Replace batteries once a year.

 

For additional safety information and links, visit my blog:  Lancaster County PA Real Estate.

For more tips and hands-on help, give me a call at (717) 413-2749.