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