It doesn’t take long for a fire to get out of control. Even a small flame can grow into a virtual inferno in under one minute. Most fatalities in home fires occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most people are sleeping. Having smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, will give you an “early warning system” so you and your family will be able to make a safe emergency exit.
Your first line 0f defense against small household fires is a fire extinguisher. You should keep a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including your basement. Make sure you read all the instructions and know how to use the extinguisher, and check each extinguisher every month to make sure they are ready to use in case of fire.
You and your family should have occasional fire drills in order to practice the safest and quickest Way 0f escape. If fire strikes, try to remain calm and remember to follow these procedures:
1) Alert everybody in the house.
2) Don’t try to extinguish the fire if you can not do it without endangering life.
3) If your clothes catch on fire, drop to the ground and roll over and over.
4) Crouch down below the smoke in a room and crawl to safety.
5) Test the warmth of all doors before you open them. If a door feels cool, open it a crack to check for smoke. If there is no smoke, keep going. Close the doors behind you as you go.
6) Go straight to a predetermined meeting place outside your home.
7) Always use a neighbor’s phone to call the fire department.
The facts are clear, there are plenty of health hazards around the house. They can have a definite impact upon your overall health if you don’t watch out. You should avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. Some common household chemicals can be harmful to your health.
The important fact is that you should be well prepared for any emergency. This would include having an emergency first aid kit, a book that details first aid procedures, and being familiar with emergency phone numbers.
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