cheapest PC repair.com

Posts Tagged ‘house fires’

Often times fires do as much damage as the earthquake itself! There is something that you can do about it though, install a gas main shutoff valve in your home and it will make sure that all gas to your house is turned off before any fires can start. The shut off valve is located around the gas main on the outside of your house. Once the shaking reaches a certain pre-determined level on the Richter scale (mine is set at 6.1) a golf ball sized ball is shaken off its perch inside the valve and falls into the gas main pipe closing off all gas to your house,

This is a huge step forward in making your home fire safe. If you do not have a gas main shutoff valve your gas pipes could rupture in a quake and begin leaking gas into the house where all it needs is one spark to turn your home into a fireball.

Once the gas main shutoff valve is activated it cannot be reversed unless by a licensed plumber and only after the residence has been declared safe to restore gas service by your local utility company. It could be a very long time depending on the damage that your house has sustained. In California’s famous 1906 earthquake, more damage was done by the fire that resuted from the earthquake than the actual quake itself

I found my shutoff valve at Roto Rooter and paid about 250.00 for mine but I am very glad that I have had it installed. Check with your local plumber contractor, if they carry this product and have them do the installation, the peace of mind is worth it just for that.

http://www.homeowner-emergency-preparedness.com

Article Source: How to Prevent House Fires after a Major Earthquake

Fires account for nearly half of all accidental child deaths. And around 6,000 fires a year are caused by children under the age of 10.
You can’t watch your kids 24/7 but there are lots of easy things you can do to prevent a household fire and keep your kids safe.

Here are 10 top tips:

1. Get a smoke alarm and test it weekly

You’re twice as likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a smoke alarm. But you can pick one up for around a fiver at large supermarkets and DIY stores.

2. Know your escape route

You need to get out quickly, so the best escape route is your usual entrance and exit. Have a plan B too in case your usual route is blocked.

Close all doors as you leave as this will give you crucial life-saving seconds and stop the fire from spreading.

3. Talk to the kids

You don’t have to scare them but they need to know the escape route, how to call 999 and what to say.

Also make sure they know:

- Not to touch matches, lighters, candles, fires, ovens or anything else that could cause a fire.
- Not to put things on top of lamps, heaters or anything else that gets hot.
- To tell a grown up if they see a fire hazard, such as matches or lighters lying around.

4. Don’t smoke in bed

Someone dies every three days from a fire caused by a cigarette. Always check that cigarettes are totally stubbed out and never smoke in bed.

5. Check electrical equipment

Did you know that over 7,000 house fires are cause each year by faulty electrics? Even if the appliance is new check that the lead and plug aren’t damaged and that there’s a British or European safety mark. If you’re in any doubt take it back to the shop or throw it away.

6. Don’t overload sockets

Plugging all your electrical appliances into one socket – even an extension socket – can be a fire hazard. Look at the socket or extension lead to see how many amps it can take.

7. Kitchen dangers

Cooking accidents cause more than half of household fires. Here’s how to be fire-safe in the kitchen.

- Never leave kids alone in the kitchen
- Make sure pan handles don’t stick out where they can be easily knocked over.
- Check that flammable materials, such as oven gloves, matches, cooking oil, dish cloths, blinds, etc, aren’t near the cooker or hob.
- If there’s a fire in your kitchen don’t tackle it, turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so, close the door, get out and get help.
- Clean your toaster because breadcrumbs can cause fires. And clean out the grease in your oven or grill as this is a fire hazard too.

8. Candles and scented oil burners

The shocking fact is that more than five fires a day are caused by candles. Make sure candles and oil burners are in a proper container and on a sturdy surface.

Never leave them unattended or where kids can reach them and never leave them near flammable material, such as curtains and cushions.

9. Lighters and matches

Keep matches and lighters away from anything that’s flammable and out of children’s reach. Never leave kids alone with matches and lighters.

10. Do a bedtime check

You’re more at risk from a fire when you’re asleep so make checking for fire hazards part of your night-time routine – you’ll sleep better knowing you and the kids are safe.

Here’s a quick bedtime checklist to help:

- Close all inside doors to stop a fire spreading.
- Check the kitchen – is the cooker off? Is the washing machine unplugged?
- Make sure all exits are clear.
- Are all cigarettes and candles totally stubbed out?
- Turn off heaters and put up fireguards.
- Check that all electrical appliances are turned off – even the small things such as games consoles.
- Make sure door and window keys are where everyone can find them.

Louise O’Connell
Good to Know
Good to Know features loads of great advice to help you look after your family.

Good to Know also features a great new recipes section. Checkout our cake recipes and our great selection of chicken recipes.

Article Source: Fire prevention advice for mums

You may be somewhat shocked to learn that there are actually no industry standards for testing and rating a fireproof safe. In fact, there may not even really be such a thing as a fully fireproof safe. Eventually, a hot enough fire, for a long enough period of time wins every time. Certainly, some safes are able to resist fire more than others, but each manufacturer has different processes and standards. This means that we, the trusting, though sometimes underinformed, consumer, must use our own diligence and efforts to make sure what we are buying is actually going to give us the level of protection for our valuables that we desire. Or, that we are at least aware of the actual level of protection we’re getting. Just because a safe is heavy, looks good, and has a big fancy graphic printed on it doesn’t mean that it will hold up under high temperatures for very long.

Consider these statistics from the National Fire Protection Association:

In the United States there is a residential fire nearly every minute or two.
Every year there are over 379,000 house fires.
There is over $4 billion dollars in property loss every year as a result of those house fires.

So, I wondered what it is about fire and safes that don’t mix. Simply put, it’s heat and time. Fire is very hot, and obviously, the longer that heat is applied to something the more likely it is to weaken that thing’s physical properties. For example, every kid knows you can pass your finger across a candle without getting burned, as long as it is quick. Nobody in their right mind lets their finger linger over the flame for very long though.

Since a house fire can reach degrees in excess of 1,100 degrees fahrenheit in only a matter of minutes, safes, and the things inside them are at increasing risk the longer they are exposed to that heat. A fireproof safe that can keep the temperature inside the safe down as low as possible for as long as possible is going to be your best bet at offering the best level of protection. What you should be looking for is a safe that will protect for as long as possible under normal fire conditions. And while what you think of as a fireproof safe, may actually be just fire-resistant, if it protects for long enough then your purchase is justified.

When you are looking to buy a fireproof safe, just go into the purchase knowing that you will get the best safe if you buy one with nice thick steel, as much fire board throughout as possible, a heat seal around the door that holds up at as high a temperature as possible, and was adequately fire tested. Find out how long each safe resists external temperatures, and how long the internal temperature stays low enough to protect your valuables for at least a half hour, usually below 350ÚF when subjected to temps over 1,100ÚF. Don’t be afraid to ask the salesman detailed questions about each aspect. Don’t let them blow you off with quick and easy answers that don’t really address your concerns. If you make sure you know what you are buying you will get as close as possible to a fireproof safe as you can.

MJ writes for ClickShops Inc., where you can find the perfect fireproof safe for your home at www.gunsafes.com.

Article Source: Is there Really such a thing as a Fireproof Safe?

Fire extinguishers can be very effective tools for saving property and lives. However, owning fire extinguishers doesn’t mean that it is always in your best interest to use one. For many people, especially older children and teens, the idea that the fire extinguisher is in the house makes them feel as though they should be able to control the fire and not leave the structure. Sometimes, this is a decision that costs lives, rather than saves them. It is important that you and your family understand when to use fire extinguishers and when to leave the home instead.

Fire extinguishers are designed to contain very small fires. They are not designed to fight fires, blazes, or roaring house fires that are consuming material. Immediate action is required on a small fire to prevent it from becoming a large fire. If the fire extinguishers are not handy enough to grab and use, chances are by the time you fish one out and return with it the fire will have spread beyond normal extinguisher ranges. Extinguishers are generally only effective on fires that are about 1 square meter when extinguishing begins.

Any fire that has high flames should not be tempted. High flames are particular danger and extinguishers have little to no chance of containing them. What makes a high flame so destructive is that while the fire may be initially contained to one corner of the room, it creeps upward and sets the next floor or the roof on fire before you even have a chance to clear everyone out. As you stand there trying destroy the flames fire is burning on the floor above you and can very easily burn through the ceiling and trap you from your escape route. Fires that have high flames should be left for professional emergency services and the entire family should vacate the home.

Extinguishers that are marked for different types of fires should only be used on those types of fires. Organic fires, like paper or wood that has caught fire, can be spread with the use of a carbon dioxide extinguisher. Knowing which of the extinguishers that you should use is primarily one of the most important decisions you can make when deciding when and if to use the extinguishers.

Spraying the top of fires, standing above fires, and standing too close to fires can cause the fire to spread when using extinguishers. In order for fire containment to be effective, you must stand back from the flame and spray the bottom of the fire. Otherwise the blast from the extinguisher can actually cause the flame to billow and cause the fire to grab more oxygen. Oxygen intensifies a fire and helps it spread faster.

If you are trying to contain a fire be very cautious when it comes to planning your escape in the event that you are not able to be successful. Do not wait until you can feel the burning of the heat before you decide to exit. Generally speaking, if you are not able to notice fire containment within the first thirty seconds of spraying, containment will not occur. Never place property above your life and always err on the side of caution when trying to extinguish flames.

Having specialized in the fire extinguishers trade for over 20 years, Brian now works tirelessly to promote affordable fire safety for home and for business.

Article Source: When to Use Fire Extinguishers

Everyone should be prepared, in the event of a house fire. Almost all house fires start at night while people are sleeping, so it is important to have a warning system that will wake you in the event of a deadly fire. Smoke detectors save lives.

The U.S. government recommends that every household have several working detectors installed in case of emergencies. Just make sure you have at least one. Your safety is in your hands.

Every general hardware and home supply store carries battery operated smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for carbon monoxide detection. Most of these are powered by 9-volt batteries. Read the back of the box to be sure you know which type of batteries you need to buy. Purchase enough to cover each level of your home.

Install an alarm inside many different areas of your house. Some communities have a service where the fire department will come to your home and install the alarms for you. This service is very handy for the elderly and for those unable to move easily on their own.

Even the smallest amount of smoke can cause smoke detectors to go off; so many times it will go off during cooking. Just fan the smoke away, and it will be fine. Take comfort from the fact that it will be sure to go off in a real emergency.

You should make sure you have enough detectors to cover every level of your home. The more areas covered the better. Some companies and the fire department will provide the service of hanging the alarms for you if you wish.

Your new smoke detectors should last for a long time after the date of purchase. Be sure to record when you bought the alarms somewhere in a household record. Monthly testing of your alarms is a necessary preventative maintenance task for your home. It is also wise to sit down and plan with your family what to do in the event of a fire emergency or if your carbon monoxide detectors go off. There is no such thing as being too prepared. Being prepared with a system of alarms backed up with extinguishers and an escape plan, as well as two way radios for contact if separated, will maximize your chances of getting out alive.

Todd j Scott has the information you need to make an informed and eduacated decision onRadar Laser Detectors, or Smoke Detector. Visit this website and get update with camcorders

Article Source: Carbon Monoxide Smoke Detectors