Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Home Security Checklist
Several safety hazards may exist in your home, and you might not even realize it. Follow these tips to ensure your house remains a safe haven for your family.
* See that window glass that is less than 18 inches off the floor is rated as safety glass.
* Equip windows with childproof latches if sills are less than 2 feet above the floor or if they're located on upper stories.
* Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees, which will help prevent scalding injuries.
* Keep flammable materials and liquids several feet away from gas furnaces and water heaters.
* Make sure your garage door opener has an automatic reversing mechanism and a photoelectric sensor that prevent the door from closing should you, your children, or your pets get in the way.
* Install fencing or shrubs around steep slopes in your yard to protect children from tumbling down.
* See that all interior and exterior stairs have a railing on at least one side, and that it's mounted securely.
* Make sure decks, porches, and balconies have railings and that the spindles or balusters are spaced no more than 4 inches apart to prevent children from slipping through.
* Keep tire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage.
* Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms and any combustion equipment, such as the furnace.
* Replace appliance cords that have torn insulation, and don't touch any wires that may be exposed.
* Outfit electrical outlets near water sources with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which immediately cut electrical flow when touched with water.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Meredith Corporation
* See that window glass that is less than 18 inches off the floor is rated as safety glass.
* Equip windows with childproof latches if sills are less than 2 feet above the floor or if they're located on upper stories.
* Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees, which will help prevent scalding injuries.
* Keep flammable materials and liquids several feet away from gas furnaces and water heaters.
* Make sure your garage door opener has an automatic reversing mechanism and a photoelectric sensor that prevent the door from closing should you, your children, or your pets get in the way.
* Install fencing or shrubs around steep slopes in your yard to protect children from tumbling down.
* See that all interior and exterior stairs have a railing on at least one side, and that it's mounted securely.
* Make sure decks, porches, and balconies have railings and that the spindles or balusters are spaced no more than 4 inches apart to prevent children from slipping through.
* Keep tire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage.
* Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms and any combustion equipment, such as the furnace.
* Replace appliance cords that have torn insulation, and don't touch any wires that may be exposed.
* Outfit electrical outlets near water sources with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which immediately cut electrical flow when touched with water.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Meredith Corporation
