Safety of High-Risk Household Appliances

∴ Safety recommendations (Meat grinder)

• Never use your fingers as a means of pushing food into the meat grinder's feed opening. Instead, use the special wooden or plastic pushers designed to drive the meat into the opening.

• Keep the meat grinder out of children's reach while in use, and during operation place it on a surface that is not accessible to children.

• Never leave the meat grinder alone with children, no matter how urgent your task is, because tending to a cooking pot or answering the phone or doorbell provides the perfect opportunity for a meat grinder accident.

• Strictly avoid washing the electrical parts of the meat grinder with water, and to clean it use only a damp cloth.

• Do not run the meat grinder for excessively long periods, as this strains the motor and causes it to burn out.

• Periodically inspect the outlet, switch, and power cord of the meat grinder and make sure they are in good condition.

∴ Safety recommendations (Iron)

• Avoid opening up and tampering with the iron. If a technical problem occurs, hand it over to an authorized repair technician.

• Carefully inspect the iron's electrical supply system, which includes the plug and the main cord, from time to time, and replace them if they are worn or potentially defective.

• Avoid dropping the iron or placing it where it might fall.

• Strictly avoid splashing water on the iron, because this causes a short circuit, electrification of the casing, and electric shock.

• If you go to open the door or answer the phone, be sure to unplug it, because a fire could break out due to a lengthy conversation or forgetfulness.

• Keep the iron away from flammable materials.

• Connect the iron to a dedicated outlet and avoid sharing the outlet with other electrical appliances such as a television, refrigerator, electric heater, and so on.

• Be sure to unplug it from the outlet after finishing your work.

∴ Safety recommendations and warnings regarding children playing on balconies 1/ The guardrail must be vertical, and the spacing between each of the bars must not exceed 10 centimeters. 2/ The height of the parapet should be at least 80 centimeters. 3/ The use of non-safety glass and sharp, pointed objects is not permitted. 4/ Sliding doors without a safety lock should not be used. 5/ Parents are advised, as far as possible, to strictly avoid leaving infants and children alone at home. 6/ Parents are advised to prevent children from playing on the home balcony. 7/ Parents are advised to always keep the balcony entrance door locked. 8/ Make sure the railings are secured and connected to the main parts of the building so that they do not fall under pressure or impact. 9/ Strictly avoid placing flowerpots and decorative items on the edge of the balcony. 10/ In the event of any accident, before taking any action, immediately contact emergency services (115) and the fire department (125).

∴ Other safety tips

• If you smoke, avoid smoking inside the home and around children.

• Keep children and items they can climb on, such as tables and sofas, away from windows.

• Install protective screens on all windows except those that lead to a fire escape.

• To prevent falls, keep stairways and hallways well lit, and use rug pads that hold carpets in place.

• Keep cleaning agents, insecticides, and similar substances in their original packaging, do not remove their labels, and keep them out of children's reach.

• Place a list of emergency phone numbers, the family doctor, and the emergency department of the nearest hospital (be careful that the number is not outdated or its area code changed) next to all the telephones in the home.

• Place the television and audio equipment so that air can flow around them and prevent them from overheating. If the television is not working well, it may cause a fire. Have it checked by a specialist.

• Watch out for electrical outlets with unsuitable plugs. If a plug is loose in an outlet, it will cause the connection to overheat and start a fire. Replace broken or old outlets and put covers on all unused outlets.

• If you have no expertise in electrical matters, do not attempt to repair or replace live electrical components, and leave electrical work to a specialist.

• Strictly avoid connecting several high-consumption electrical appliances (heating and cooling devices) to a single outlet.

• Check the cords of electrical appliances and make sure they are in good condition. Note that you should never nail or rivet cords to a wall, floor, or any other surface. Do not run cords under a rug or carpet, and do not place furniture on them.

• Avoid using bulbs with a high wattage that is incompatible with the tolerance of the wiring and socket. If you use such bulbs at home, make sure the socket is suitable. Always screw bulbs in carefully; a loose or crooked bulb in the socket causes a short circuit and fire.

• Use suitable fuses and switches in the fuse box, and always replace any blown or faulty fuse with an identical one.

• Do not expose electrical appliances to splashing water. If an electrical appliance falls into water, never reach your hand into the water to retrieve it, even if the appliance is off. First turn off the main electrical switch, then unplug the appliance from the outlet and remove it from the water. If you have an electrical appliance that has gotten wet in any way, first have a specialist confirm it is in good working order.

• Check your computer and other audio-visual equipment and make sure they function properly. Watch for scratches or similar damage on its cords and electrical parts. For such equipment, use a power-line voltage regulator or at least a transformer.

• Halogen lamps generate far more heat energy than other types of lamps. Never place these lamps in close contact with curtains, fabric items, or flammable materials. Keep the halogen lamp off when you are not present, and never use such lamps or mercury lamps to light children's rooms.

• Place heating appliances such as heaters at a safe distance from flammable items such as bedding, curtains, sofas, wooden items, and carpets. Avoid using various heaters in places where children are present without a supervisor. When not in use or when no one is home, keep heaters of all kinds (electric, gas, etc.) turned off.

• During a thunderstorm with lightning, do not use electrical devices such as a hairdryer, radio, or toaster, as well as the telephone (except in emergencies). Do not go into the bathroom, keep a radio and flashlight with fresh batteries on hand, and if you live in an area where such storms are frequent, use a voltage regulator.

• Keep an ashtray containing hot cigarette butts out of children's reach.

• Do not keep personal hygiene items such as razors and scissors within children's reach.

• Use child safety locks for cabinets and shelves that contain toxic and dangerous substances.

• Write down and post the phone numbers of emergency services, the fire department, and the poison control center next to every telephone in the home.

• Keep a first aid kit at home that contains at least the following items: Bandages, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, scissors, cotton, antibiotic ointment, needles, safety pins, calamine lotion, ipecac syrup to induce vomiting, and a thermometer.