Home Safety Buying Guide

Fire detection is key to making sure everyone gets out of a burning house safely. Smoke detectors can detect smoke before you can smell it, giving you and your family extra time to escape from a fire.

• Place smoke detectors in or near every sleeping area, near the kitchen and in other living spaces. There should be at least one on every floor of the house, including the basement/garage. Install the smoke detector according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually on the ceiling or on a wall around 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling. When placing your smoke detector, avoid vents, registers and areas of dead air or heavy airflow as this may impact performance.
• Keep smoke detector units clean and free of dust, and test the batteries monthly. You can test some models by shining a flashlight on them. This way, you don't have to use a step stool to reach the test button. Other models include a silence button to cut off false alarms easily. 
• Replace the batteries in your smoke detector twice a year. Make battery replacement easy to remember by doing it on the days you adjust the clock for daylight saving time. 
• If you're not up for monthly maintenance, choose a model that's hard-wired into your house's electrical system. You can connect them so an alarm at one detector will make all of the alarms in the house activate. Make sure hard-wired detectors have back-up batteries in case the power in your house goes out. Some models feature long-life power cells that last up to 10 years without a battery change.
• When shopping for a smoke detector, look for a unit that senses both smoldering and flaming fires. Some models include an escape light to help you find your way out of the house through dense smoke. If you're in a home with hearing-impaired people, look for a smoke detector with a strobe light that flashes when the alarm sounds.
• For maximum safety, look for a smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector combination unit.

Learn more about choosing a smoke detector for your home.

A fire extinguisher is a must for your home's kitchen, the place where many house fires start, but you should have one on every floor of your home. Different extinguishers tackle different types of fires, so look closely at units marked A, B and C. These letters refer to which types of fires the extinguishers address:

• Class A extinguishers handle fires involving paper, wood, textiles and plastics. The material inside smothers the fire, putting it out by cutting off the oxygen that feeds it.
• Class B extinguishers tackle fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, oil, gasoline and paint. Two kinds of material deploy: one to smother the fire and one to create a chemical reaction that puts it out.
• Class C extinguishers use nonconductive materials to fight fires in live electrical equipment.

Each extinguisher also has a rating number indicating the size fire it can handle. Some units rate for all three types of fires, but they have a larger size rating for one type than for another. Choose a fire extinguisher that's right for the types of fire that might break out in a particular area.

Learn more about choosing the right fire extinguisher for your home.

Map out your escape route, and identify a family meeting place in case of fire. If you have more than one floor in your home, consider investing in a fire escape ladder. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), you should have an alternate exit out of every room. Also, make sure that all windows and doors can be opened and shut. Fix any windows that have been painted or nailed shut, doors that are stubborn or stuck, and locks that are difficult to operate. Security bars or grates over windows or doors should have quick-release devices that allow you to open them in an emergency. The NFPA also recommends that you hold a fire drill twice a year.

Learn how to make a fire escape plan.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that can kill. It is produced by common household sources, including wood or gas fireplaces, gas or oil furnaces, wood stoves, gas appliances, a clogged chimney or improper venting in a garage. Today's energy-efficient, airtight homes contribute to the problem by decreasing the exchange of inside and outside air.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning mimic those of the flu so you might not realize you're being poisoned until damage is done. A carbon monoxide detector in your home will alert you when the level of the gas in the air has become dangerous.

• Look for a carbon monoxide detector with sensors that record the levels of gas in the air. That information can help determine the source of the problem.
• Like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors can be battery-operated or hard-wired, and they come with test buttons, silence buttons, visual indicators of the alarm and features to let you know when the battery needs replacing.
• Many states require only one carbon monoxide detector in a single-family home. However, additional units may offer added peace of mind.

Learn more about choosing the best carbon monoxide detector for your home.

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas proven to cause cancer. So it's important to test your home for its presence. Radon test kits are easy to use and inexpensive, providing complete instructions for where to send your sample for analysis.

Know where the shut-off valves and switches are for your home’s water, gas and electricity. Label them with brightly colored tags so they're easy for anyone in the household to locate in the event of an emergency.

Outlets in the kitchen, especially those near the sink and water lines, should be GFCI outlets. These outlets work by monitoring current flow to protect people from electrocution.

Most local codes now require these outlets in new construction. Older houses may need retrofitting. Use the test button monthly to ensure proper function.

In the event of a power outage, make sure that your home has plenty of emergency lighting so you aren't stuck in the dark.

• Keep flashlights with fresh batteries in convenient places throughout the house.
• Flashlights are safer than emergency candles, which can start fires. 

Storage and Organization

• Whether you’re storing sporting equipment, power tools or chemicals, install and maintain sturdy utility shelving.
• Keep tools and sharp objects off the floor. A tool chest or storage cabinet creates easy accessibility.
• Store dangerous chemicals in safe containers according to manufacturers' instructions, preferably on high shelves or in cabinets with doors that lock. Lockable utility cabinets keep dangerous substances away from kids and pets.
• Store ladders or bicycles overhead. Mount brackets to the ceiling joists, or install a lift assembly to create usable space and remove tripping hazards.
• Corner shelving is a great option for small-item storage.
• When storing and removing items from high shelves, use a step stool or utility ladder. Never stand on a chair or climb your shelving units.

Garage Door Openers

If you have an older home, chances are good that you have a garage door that lacks modern safety features. Invest in a new door and an opener that offers automatic reversal sensors and a photoelectric safety sensor eye to prevent crushing injuries or deaths. This feature is especially important in households with small children and pets.

Falls in the home lead to thousands of injuries every year. While the elderly are the most susceptible, all ages are at risk if a house isn't arranged for safety. Here's how to prevent these kinds of accidents in your home.

• Make sure that transitions from one flooring material to the other, such as from a carpeted hallway to a tiled bathroom, are smooth and free of obstructions that might cause someone to trip.
• Use nonslip pads under rugs so they don't slide out from under feet.
• Place night lights and lighted switches anywhere someone might need to walk in the dark. Pay special attention to guest rooms, because the people sleeping there might not be familiar with the layout of your house.
• Make sure major pathways through the house are free of floor clutter.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• For garages, consider anti-fatigue/anti-slip garage floor tile or floor coating and paint additives for added flooring protection and slip resistance.

Bedrooms and Living Rooms

Bedrooms and living spaces present their own fire safety issues. It's important to do the following:

• Don't overload outlets or extension cords.
• Check all extension cords to ensure they're rated for the correct usage and that they're not frayed or damaged.
• Ensure that portable heaters aren't located close to combustibles.
• Close your bedroom door when you're sleeping. If a fire occurs, a door can slow the fire's spread and act as a barrier against dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Laundry Rooms

The majority of laundry room fires are caused by lint that hasn't been removed from the dryer, so it's recommended to do the following:

• Remove lint from dryer screens and vents after every use.
• Clean the back of the dryer as well. Lint can often build up back there.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that you clean lint out of the vent pipe every three months.
• Never run your dryer if you're asleep or away from home.

Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe in the kitchen:

• Have a serviced fire extinguisher, a working smoke detector and a first aid kit on hand.
• Post numbers for local emergency services, poison control hotlines and your doctor’s office in a place where family members, guests and babysitters can find them.
• Eliminate hazards that may cause trips or falls, including stray step stools and storage boxes. Have children and pets stay in a different room while you're cooking.
• Clean spills promptly, including stray ice cubes that leave a puddle when melted.
• Don't wear long necklaces or loose bracelets when cooking. They can loop over pot handles and pull pots and pans off the cooktop.
• Keep all handles pointed to the inside or rear of the cooking surface so they can’t be knocked off with an accidental bump or pulled down by small children.
• Understand how to use kitchen appliances, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Contain electric cords so they won't dangle from the counters where children or pets might pull the cord, causing the appliance to fall on top of them.
• Know your lifting limits, respect them and invest in alternate solutions. For example, if carrying a pot of boiling pasta to the stove is too much, use a pasta strainer. Leave the water to cool on the cooktop for safer transport.
• Wash hands often with warm, soapy water when handling food to prevent contamination in the kitchen.
• Know your microwave’s power. Scalds and burns happen because people accidentally overheat foods in the microwave. 

Warn all users of the dangers and exercise caution when testing the temperature of microwaved food and beverages.

Here are some knife safety tips to keep in mind.

• Cover knives stored in a drawer to protect fingers from cuts.
• If you store your knives on a magnetic strip, make sure the magnetic force is strong enough to hold them and that the strip is fastened tightly to the wall above a counter. Never mount your knives where they may fall on someone. Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Always wear sturdy shoes when working in the kitchen. If you do drop a knife, your feet are protected.

Here are a few ways to practice fire safety in the kitchen.

• Don't store cooking utensils or dish towels too close to the range.
• Don't wear loose or draped clothing or synthetic fabrics that could catch fire quickly when cooking near open flames.
• Don't leave food cooking unattended.
• Tie back long hair.
• Use hot pads to protect surfaces and prevent scorching and fire hazards.
• Keep pot holders within reach but away from open flames that may cause a fire.