Safety Tips for the Home and Family

Always make sure the pipes and fittings of the boiler room, gas fireplace, heaters, and other gas appliances are in good condition, and do not forget their annual inspection. Keep children and items they can climb on, such as tables and sofas, away from windows. Except for windows that lead to a fire escape, install protective grilles on all windows. To prevent falls, keep stairways and hallways well lit with suitable tape, and use anti-slip rug pads to hold rugs in place. Keep cleaning agents, insecticides, and similar materials 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family doctor, and the emergency department of the nearest hospital (be careful that the number is not old or with an outdated area code) next to all the home's telephones. Obtain a protective metal screen for the fireplace and do not neglect to keep it clean. At the start of the cold season, check that the chimney is open and clean. Place the television and audio equipment so that air can circulate around them and prevent them from overheating. If the television is not working well, it may cause a fire. Have it inspected by a specialist. Watch out for sockets with unsuitable plugs. If a plug is loose in the socket, it will cause the connection to overheat and start a fire. Replace broken or old sockets and place covers over all unused sockets. Check the wires of electrical appliances and make sure they are in good condition. Note that you should never nail or staple wires to a wall, the floor, or any other surface. Do not run wires under rugs or carpets, and do not place furniture on them. The compatibility of the socket and plug is very important in preventing tragic accidents. Never force a larger plug into a socket. Avoid drawing too much output from a single socket. Refrain from using lamps with a high wattage that is unsuitable for the rated capacity of the wiring and the lamp holder; otherwise, make sure the lamp holder is appropriate. Always tighten lamps carefully; a lamp that is loose or crooked in the holder causes a short circuit and fire. Use suitable fuses and switches in the fuse box, and always replace any blown or faulty fuse with a similar one. Do not expose electrical appliances to splashing water. If an electrical appliance falls into water, never put your hand in the water to retrieve it, even if the appliance is off. First cut off the main power switch, then pull the appliance's plug from the socket and take it out of the water. If you have an electrical appliance that has gotten wet in any way, first have a specialist make sure it is in good condition. Check your computer and other audio-visual equipment and make sure they are working correctly. Watch for scratches or similar damage on the wires and electrical parts. For such equipment, use a power regulator (voltage controller) or at least a transformer. Place heating appliances such as heaters at a safe distance from flammable items such as bedding, curtains, sofas, wooden items, and rugs. Avoid using various heaters in a place where children are without a caregiver present. When not in use or when no one is home, keep heaters of every type (electric, gas, etc.) turned off. Halogen lamps produce far more heat energy than other types of lamps. Never place these lamps in close contact with curtains, fabric items, or flammable materials. Keep a halogen lamp off when no one is present, and never use such lamps or mercury lamps to light children's rooms. During a thunderstorm, do not use electrical appliances such as hair dryers, radios, and toasters, or the telephone (except in emergencies). Do not take a bath; keep a radio and a flashlight with fresh batteries on hand, and if you live in an area where such storms occur frequently, use a power surge controller. Keep ashtrays containing hot cigarette butts out of children's reach. If you smoke, refrain from smoking inside the house and around children. Do not leave personal hygiene items such as razors and scissors within children's reach. Use child safety locks for cabinets and cupboards that contain toxic and dangerous materials.