October 5 – 11, 2014 is fire prevention week. As personal injury attorneys practicing in Buffalo, New York, we have seen the devastation home fires cause. The temperature is dropping and for many of us this was the first week that our heat kicked on in our homes.
Home heating equipment is a leading cause of death in the United States. This is a good time of year to review home heater safety. Remember to not place anything within 3 feet of a heater such as wood stove, space heater or kerosene heater. Make sure your fire place has a sturdy screen around it. Also, make sure your home is equipped with a functioning carbon monoxide detector. Test your smoke detectors once per month to make sure they are functioning. If you rent an apartment or house, report any problems to your landlord immediately.
Take time to sit down with your family and make an emergency escape plan and practice it. For more tips, please visit the National Fire Prevention Association website. This website also has tips and children’s activities to get the entire family engaged in learning about fire prevention.
