Home Safety Checklist
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Electrical Cords and Outlets
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Check for frayed wires. - Repair or replace any loose or frayed wires on all electrical devices.
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Follow the path of cords - No cords should run under rugs or across doorways.
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Baby-proof - If you have any small children in your house, place plastic safety covers over unused outlets.
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Rethink extension cords - Consider adding electrical outlets where you currently rely on extension cords.
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Check for a faulty electrical system - Feel all outlets and plugs to see if any are warm; if so, have an electrician check them.
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Don’t overload the system - Make sure that you’ve followed manufacturers’ directions about maximum wattage of lamp bulbs and outlet requirements for plugs.
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And don’t overload any one outlet - Be certain that you have no more than one high-wattage appliance plugged into a single outlet.
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Home Heating
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Examine the outside vents - They should be properly sealed and clear of obstruction to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the house. Recheck during and after a snowstorm.
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Pick the right wood - If you use a fireplace or a woodstove, stock up on dry seasoned wood, which burns without producing a lot of creosote. A buildup of creosote—soot—in the chimney or flue can be dangerous, causing chimney fires.
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Hire a chimney sweep - Have flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional annually.
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Inspect wood-burning stoves twice monthly - Make sure the door latch closes properly. The room should have a working smoke detector. And never let a child use the stove unattended.
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Inspect water heaters annually - The temperature should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns. Never leave children alone near a water heater, and keep combustible and flammable materials well away from it.
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Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
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Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors generously - These should be on each floor of the house, covering all sleeping areas.
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Test alarms monthly - Replace any that don’t work. (In any case, alarms should be replaced every 10 years.)
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Replace batteries annually - Or sooner, if the alarm chirps.
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Clean all detectors - Vacuum each grille.
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Post the fire department’s carbon-monoxide-reporting emergency number - If it differs from 911, keep the number by every phone
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Demonstrate the sound of each detector - Family members need to know the difference.
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Fire Extinguishers
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Place extinguishers strategically - Keep one in the kitchen and one on every floor. And learn how to use them.
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Replace extinguishers when necessary - Follow the schedule suggested by the manufacturer, and always replace an extinguisher that appears damaged.
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Consider installing a sprinkler system.
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Escape Plans
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Create an escape plan with two exit routes in case of fire - Practice it twice a year (once at night) with the whole family. For details, see the National Fire Protection Association’s website, nfpa.org.
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Choose a meeting place - Set a plan for meeting up in case of a local or national disaster. See nfpa.org.
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If you live in a two-story house, buy a rescue ladder - It should attach to an upper-level window casing to provide an alternate escape route.
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In Homes With Small Children
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Lock the cabinets - Install safety latches and locks.
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Install window guards on every window - Make sure one window in each room can be used as a fire exit.
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Install safety gates - Bar the top and bottom of stairs.
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Lock up hazardous materials - Place any poisonous or hazardous products in locked cabinets. Post the poison-control hotline’s number (800-222-1222) by every phone.
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Make sure all your medicines and vitamins have childproof caps - Store them out of children’s reach.
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Stow away sharp knives - Scissors and cosmetic tools, too, as well as matches and plastic bags, should be kept out of children’s reach.
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Lock up any guns - Be sure they are unloaded and separate from ammunition.
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Install padding on furniture with sharp edges - And put doorknob covers on entry doors so kids can’t get out unattended.
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If you have a pool, fence it in - A pool should be enclosed with a four-sided fence and a childproof gate.
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Teach children their address and how to dial 911 - As early as possible, children need to know these fundamentals.
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Burglarproofing
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Install a sturdy deadbolt lock on every door to the outside - This should include the door into the house from the garage.
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Keep your house looking lived-in when you’re away - Arrange for the lawn to be mowed, stop mail delivery, install timers for selected lights, leave a car in the driveway, and leave drapes or shades open at least a bit
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Advertise prominently any home security system you have installed - You might think about putting up signs even if you don’t have a system.
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Examine your landscaping - Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors that provide hiding places for burglars, and prune limbs that serve as ladders to upper windows.
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Purchase a metal bar or a solid-wood dowel to insert in the tracking of sliding glass doors - This will prevent anyone from opening them.
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Put your street number, not your name, on your mailbox.
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Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend - Thieves know all about fake rocks and other hide-a-key tricks.
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Burglarproofing
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In any room with window bars, make sure at least one has a quick-release mechanism - Replace or retrofit as needed.
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Install motion-sensing floodlights in the backyard.
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Miscellaneous
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Make sure your house number is visible from the street - It should be easily spotted, in case an emergency vehicle needs to look for it.
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Store flammable liquids away from any flame source - It’s preferable to store them outside the house.
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Keep flammable objects away from the kitchen stove.
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Plug a rechargeable flashlight into a socket by your bed - You’ll be able to light the way through smoke in a fire or signal to firefighters.
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Install nonslip decals or a nonskid tub mat in your tub.
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Put lights and light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs - Prevent falls in the dark.
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Paint the bottom basement step white so it’s more visible - You’ll be less likely to mistake it for the floor.