Some Tips for home Fire and Safety Inspection
Electrical Safety:
- Are appliances checked periodically to be sure they are in good operating condition?
- Are you careful not to run extension cords under rugs, over hooks, and nails?
- Are you careful not to twist, tie, wrap, or place too many bends in an extension cord?
- Never tie an extension cord in a knot.
- Are you using extension cords for longer than 90 days?
- Are you careful not to use extension cords for appliances,space heaters, water heaters,and other appliances that
- required more electricity?
- Are you careful to make sure appliances like space heaters, water heaters, and humidifiers and dehumidifiers are
- plugged in directly to an outlet?
- Does the gauge of both cords match?
- Do your lights dim when appliances are turned on?
- Do your lights flicker?
Cooking:
- Is the screen always in front of your fireplaces?
- Has your fireplace been inspected and cleaned by a professional company?
- Does your chimney have a “spark arrester” or spark catching cover?
- Do you make sure combustibles are not stored near the stove, heater or fireplace?
- Is your furnace in good condition?
- Has it been inspected in the last five years?
- Do you keep clearance around you furnace, wood stove, and water heater?
- Is the filter for your forced air heater changed yearly and the venting cleaned?
- Is your wood burning stoves in good repair and located away from combustible walls and ceiling?
Fire Escape Plan (E.D.I.T.H.)
- Does your family have a fire escape plan prepared?
- Is your escape plan posted and regularly practiced?
- Does each bedroom have two ways out/exits?
- Does your family know how to signal for help if they are trapped in an upper floor of your home?
- Has someone in your family been assigned to assist younger children, senior living in your home, and anyone who is disabled?
- Do all family members know how to dial 9-1-1 for fire, police and medical emergencies?
- Do you show your babysitter the escape routes from your home and review 9-1-1 with her or him?
- Does your family (and babysitter) know the first rule in fire emergencies: GET EVERYONE OUT FAST AND DON’T
- GO BACK INSIDE?
- Does your family have a meeting place?