| According to the U.S. Fire Administration
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| | them the dangers of fire.
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| (USFA), over 1.5 million fires were
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| reported in 2004, and there was an
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| | * Never smoke in bed. Careless smoking
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| estimated $9.8 million in property loss
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| | is the leading cause of home fire deaths.
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| due to fires. Even more alarming, there
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| were close to 18,000 injuries and 3,900
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| deaths due to fires in 2004. The USFA
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| | Holiday Fire Prevention
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| states that, during that year, the death
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| toll from fires was more than all natural
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| | * Select and care for your Christmas
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| disasters combined. Further, the agency
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| | tree. Choose a Christmas tree that is
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| claims that the actual numbers are
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| | fresh; if you bounce the trunk on the
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| higher, since many fires go unreported.
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| | ground and needles fall off, it is not
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| | freshly cut. Once you put your tree up,
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| Fully 83 percent of all fire-related
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| | keep it watered, and don't leave it up
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| deaths and 80 percent of all injuries
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| | for longer than two weeks. Once you take
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| occurred in home fires. These numbers are
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| | it down, don't burn it in the fireplace;
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| all the more tragic since most home fires
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| | instead, take it to a recycling center or
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| are fully preventable. The USFA offers
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| | have a service come and pick it up.
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| these fire safety tips to protect your
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| home and loved ones:
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| | * Maintain your holiday lights. Inspect
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|
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| | your lights each year for frayed wires
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| Home Fire Prevention
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| | and wear. Check the wires; they shouldn't
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|
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| | be warm. Finally, don't leave lights
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| * Install smoke detectors on every level
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| | unattended.
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| of your home, test them monthly, and
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| change the batteries yearly. Smoke
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| | * Decorate with care. Use only
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| detectors can double your chance of
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| | non-flammable or flame retardant
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| survival during a home fire.
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| | decorations, and keep them away from heat
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|
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| | sources. Don't put wrapping paper in the
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| * Prevent electrical fires. Don't
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| | fireplace, as it could trigger a chemical
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| overload extension cords, and keep cords
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| | explosion. If you put up an artificial
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| away from rugs. Unplug and replace
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| | tree, ensure that it is flame retardant.
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| appliances that sputter or spark.
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| | There are many products available on the
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| * Use alternate heaters wisely. Keep
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| | market that can help with fireproofing
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| combustible materials away from portable
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| | and offer fire protection. From Christmas
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| heaters. Use fire screens in your
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| | tree fire prevention products to fabric
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| fireplace and have it cleaned each year.
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| | treatments that make textiles fire
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| | resistive, these products, together with
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| * Plan your escape. Develop and practice
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| | good home fire safety practices, can save
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| an escape plan from every room in your
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| | lives and property.Chris Robertson is an
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| house.
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| | author of Majon International, one of the
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|
| |
| | worlds MOST popular internet marketing
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| * Teach your children. Children of all
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| | companies on the web.
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| ages set over 100,000 house fires each
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| | Visit this Home Improvement Website and
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| year, but children under five are
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| | Majon's Home Improvement directory.
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| especially curious about matches. Teach
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