Your personal fire protection
If you're like most homeowners, you'll probably never have to make a claim, but no one is safe from a fire. To some extent, home insurance can help you offset the financial loss resulting from mishaps that are typically "sudden and accidental" and also difficult to predict and avoid.
Take the following steps to protect your family and your home:
Check the operation of your smoke detectors
Install smoke detectors outside bedrooms and on every level of your home, including the basement.
Make sure that no dust settles on the smoke detectors and never cover them with a coat of paint.
Do not use rechargeable batteries; they can run out completely without warning.
Check the operation of smoke detectors at least once a month.
Replace the batteries at least once a year, or better yet, when the time changes in the spring and fall.
Replace smoke detectors every ten years.
Prepare an evacuation plan in case of fire
Draw a diagram of your house, indicating two exits for each room.
Exercise with all of your family.
Determine an outside location where you can meet and call for help.
Practice crawling to avoid heat and smoke.
Remind all family members to come out and stay outside.
Use your kitchen safely
Never leave anything on the fire unattended. Turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it is only for a few seconds.
Use a CSA approved fryer.
Wear tight-fitting clothing that won't snag on pot handles.
Turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk of a pot accidentally tipping over and preventing children from grabbing it.
Do not allow children to come within one meter (about three feet) of the stove when cooking.
Hide matches and lighters
Ask the children to tell you when they find matches or lighters.
Remind them whenever these articles are for adults only.
Be careful when you smoke
Never smoke in bed.
Use only large, stable ashtrays.
Wet cigarette ends before throwing them away.
After you put out a cigarette, make sure that there is no butt or ash on or near furniture.
Be careful with electricity
By paying a little attention, you can spot devices that are potentially dangerous or are in poor condition: flickering light bulbs, bare wires, burning smells, open circuit breakers.
Never run electrical wires under furniture or carpets where they could be crushed or even cut.
Do not use extension cords permanently.
Do not plug too many appliances into the same outlet.
Provide sufficient space for portable electric heaters
Leave at least one meter (about three feet) between combustible materials and portable electric heaters.
Turn off portable electric heaters when you leave the room.
Eliminate combustible waste
Regularly throw away anything that may be a source of fire, including paints or solvents that you no longer need, piles of paper, etc.
Never leave combustible materials in the boiler room.
Safety related to the use of fireplaces
Carefully install a protective grid around open fires; it is recommended to use firewalls.
Frequently clean chimney flues that run on petroleum, solid fuels or wood
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