Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintended home injuries and related deaths. On December 25th, a fire killed five family members of Madonna Badger, a Manhattan advertising executive. Badger is the co-founder of the ad firm Badger and Winters, in the Flatiron District. Officials claim that the fire was caused by hot embers that were left near her house.
Below are some helpful tips for preventing house fires.
FIREPLACES
Discard all burning or hot embers into a metal container and douse them with water.
Move flammable items away from your fireplace.
Use glass doors or a metal screen on your fireplace.
If you use Creosote logs in your fireplace, have a professional inspect the fire logs and chimney once a year.
PORTABLE HEATERS
Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from curtains, wood, or newspapers. Remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
CANDLES
Never allow children to keep candles lit or light incense in their rooms.
Use candle holders that are encased by glass or metal.
STOVES
Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking.
Don’t leave items lit on the stove top when children are around.
Keep dishtowels, plastic bags, or paper items at least two feet away from your stove.
IMPLEMENT GOOD SAFETY PRACTICES
Install fire detectors in every room and check them every month.
Buy a fire extinguisher for your kitchen and each bedroom.
Create a fire escape plan.
Designate at least two exits out of every room.
Hold a family fire drill at least one time per year.
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