When thinking of the cause of a kitchen fire, it is common to think of cooking. But not all kitchen fires start because of cooking hazards. Non-cooking related fires commonly involve refrigerators, freezers or dishwashers. The following tips can help prevent non-cooking related fires from occurring in your kitchen.
Plug all kitchen appliances, including microwaves, toasters and coffee makers, directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord as it can overheat and cause a fire.
Use the right outlet for the right appliance. For larger appliances, such as ovens and refrigerators, be sure to only use properly grounded outlets with circuits that match the rating plate on the appliance. If you have older 2-prong outlets in other locations of your kitchen, have a qualified electrician replace it with a properly grounded 3-prong outlet. Do not use an adapter.
Replace any power cords that become frayed or otherwise damaged. Never use a cord that shows cracks or other damage.
When moving kitchen appliances, be aware of power cords. Rolling over or pinching power cords can damage them.
Unplug small appliances when not in use.
Keep your stove and oven clean. Built up food splatter or grease can later ignite when the stove or oven is turned on for cooking.
Check and clean stove hoods and filters regularly. If your stove hood vents externally, make sure insects or birds do not build nests or otherwise impede air flow through it.
Never use a gas or propane oven to heat your home. Not only is this a fire hazard, but it can also give off toxic gases.
What to Do If a Kitchen Fire Flares Up
By exercising caution at all times in your kitchen, you can help reduce the risk of a kitchen fire. But if a fire does flare up, you need to be prepared.
Your safety should always come first. If you are unsure about whether it is safe to fight the fire, leave the scene, call 911 for help, and let the fire department control the fire.
If a small fire flares up and you are going to attempt to extinguish it, call 911 for help first. A fire may grow out of control more quickly than you anticipate. It is safer to have help already on the way. Using a fire extinguisher
In the event of severe damage to your home or business, having a current inventory of your possessions — including their make and model numbers — can help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance. While most people think of their home when discussing an inventory, it is important to document the contents of your business as well.
Watch “Emergency Preparedness: How Taking a Home Inventory Can Help You Recover Sooner”
Here are some suggestions for getting started.
Take a picture. Take pictures of rooms and important individual items. Label pictures with a description, including where you bought it and the make, model and serial number. Remember items that are in storage closets or drawers.
Video record it. Walk through your home or office with a video recorder or tape recorder and describe the contents.
Create an electronic file – Use your computer or mobile device to create and store your inventory list. Take advantage of mobile applications or free online software like www.knowyourstuff.org to organize pictures or descriptions of your belongings by room or category.
Store the list, photos and tapes. Regardless of how you create it (written or electronic list, flash drive, photos, video or audio), keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box, on a disk or at a friend or colleague’s home. Doing so will help ensure you will have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add the information to the inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Consider expensive items. Valuable items like jewelry, art and collectibles may have increased in value since you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.
This information was taken from an article from the Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org)
Warmer weather means more people enjoying outdoor activities. But extreme temperatures have killed more people in recent years than other natural disasters combined.1 Between 1999 and 2009, an average of 658 heat-related deaths occurred per year.2
Turning the Heat Down – Preventing Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion
Whether you are working or playing in the sun, the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke increases with the temperature.
The following tips can help you stay safe:
Drink ample cool water throughout the day. Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine, soda or fruit juice. 3
Wear a hat and light-colored clothing. 4
Try to limit exertion to cooler periods of the day.
Take frequent breaks and rest if feeling weak.
Be aware that some medications may make you more vulnerable to sun and heat exposure.
If air temperature is higher than 95° F, fans will be ineffective and air conditioning should be used instead.
Apply wet towels or headbands to help beat the heat.
Help replace lost fluids from your body with water or sports drinks.5
Heat Injury – Know the Warning Signs
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the most common problems when the body is exposed to excessive temperatures.6
Heat exhaustion results when you spend long periods of time exposed to high temperatures and your body gets too hot.
Symptoms Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include, but are not limited to:
Dizziness
Weakness
Headaches
Blurred vision
Nausea
Staggering
Paleness
Profuse sweating
Weak pulse
Faint breathing
Unconsciousness
Treatment The following tips can help treat heat exhaustion:
Go to a shady location or a room with air conditioning
Lie down and stay calm
Take frequent small sips of cool water or a sports drink
Call the doctor if symptoms persist as heat exhaustion can quickly become heat stroke.
Heat stroke can potentially be life threatening since it can cause you to lose the ability to sweat and control body temperature.
Symptoms Symptoms of heat stroke can include, but are not limited to:
Severe headache
Face is red and skin is hot and dry
No sweating
Pulse is strong and very fast
Vomiting and diarrhea
Fever
Confusion
Convulsions
Unconsciousness
Treatment
If you believe a co-worker or loved one is suffering from heat stroke,call 911 immediately and follow directions given by emergency personnel. Move the person to a room with air conditioning or to the shade to help cool him or her and loosen his or her clothing.
More and more, people are vacationing in their own backyards. If you have turned yours into a “staycation” hot spot, here are some safety tips to consider to help keep your oasis fun and free of danger.
The Pool
The pool can be a refreshing way to get some relief from the hot sun. But it can also be dangerous. Get your pool swim-ready by understanding some of the most common ways accidents occur, and then learning more about proper swimming pool safety and maintenance to help prevent them:
Unsupervised access or swimming, either by lack of close supervision or by failing to properly secure the pool to prevent entry. As a pool owner, you are responsible for making sure that access is restricted and people cannot enter pool areas unattended.
Injury by diving or jumping improperly, or from water around the pool or deck area that may cause someone to slip and fall.
Defective or broken spa or swimming pool components. Drains are often a dangerous pool part that can cause circulation entrapment if not properly covered. Faulty pool equipment and old pool lighting can also cause electrical shock.
Prevent swimming pool accidents before they occur. Learn more about swimming pool safety.
The Grill
During warmer months, you might enjoy having a backyard barbecue. But according to the latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, gas and charcoal grills have been involved in an average of 8,800 home and outside fires per year. Some of the main causes of grilling fires are:
Placing the grill too close to combustibles, such as siding or an overhang.
Failure to keep the grill clean. Grease or fat buildup can catch and spread fire quickly.
A leak or break in the grill’s gas hose.
Leaving equipment unattended.
Misuse of material or product, including using incorrect starter fluids.
Trampolines can be fun for kids, but according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are the cause of nearly 100,000 injuries each year. Avoid being a statistic:
Limit the number of jumpers to one at a time.
Supervision is needed for children at all times.
Remove trampoline ladders after use to prevent unsupervised access by young children.
Anchor the trampoline and enclosure to the ground by using a trampoline anchor kit.
Playsets
Playsets can be enjoyed by children of all ages, but damaged or weather-worn playsets can cause accidents. Stay safe by:
Supervising children.
Regularly checking for sturdiness, rusty bolts and wood rot, and making necessary repairs.
Ensuring playsets do not have openings between pieces that could trap a child’s head or neck.
Placing playsets securely on level ground and on wood chips or other soft materials to cushion falls and help prevent injuries.
Fire Pits
Warm nights are the perfect time to roast marshmallows. But out-of-control fires can cause injury. Be smart:
Place the fire pit in a safe spot away from your home, backyard deck or low-hanging tree branches.
Always require adult supervision around the fire pit while it is in use and until it has cooled off.
Never leave the fire unattended.
Use sand to fully extinguish the fire.
Let the coals cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container.
Lawn mowers
During the spring and summer months, lawn mowers can easily cause injury. Follow these tips for safety:
Read the mower’s manual, heed safety and operating instructions and learn the controls.
Do not allow children to ride as passengers on a lawn mower, and be sure to keep children out of the yard while mowing.
Clean up toys and other objects, such as rocks, from the yard to help prevent injuries from flying objects.
Never leave a running mower unattended.
Never operate the mower in an enclosed place where carbon monoxide can accumulate.
Never unclog or work on a lawn mower while the engine is on or when the spark plug is connected.
Wear non-slip shoes (no open toes or heels), long pants and hearing and eye protection.
Protect your Friends and Family as you Beat the Heat.
Warmer weather means more outdoor activities for the whole family, including cooling off in the pool. We want to help you make sure that you, your family and guests are safe. Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe while you have fun:
Always supervise swimmers and have life-saving equipment nearby:
Maintain secure fencing and a locked entrance around the pool and deck area to prevent access when adequate supervision is not available. Install self-closing and self-latching gates.
Make sure no one swims alone. Never leave a child unattended in the water or pool area, and make sure less experienced swimmers are always accompanied by a swimmer who has water life-saving skills.
Equip your door, gate or pool with an audible alarm to alert you if someone enters the pool area or falls into the pool while it is unattended.
Diving should be prohibited unless a specific area of the pool is designated for safe diving. Water depth and diving-restricted areas should be clearly marked.
Make sure there is adequate life-saving equipment in the pool area, including life preservers and a rope with life-saving rings, a reaching pole or rescue hook.
Regularly maintain your pool during the season to keep swimmers and sun-bathers safe:
Keep chemicals safely stored away from the pool area. Follow all storage and usage instructions recommended by the pool chemical manufacturer.
Be sure electrical devices, including outdoor entertainment systems, are away from pools or wet surfaces. When using electrical devices outdoors be sure to plug them into a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). Keep the pool area clear of glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards.
Inspect the liner. Rips and tears can appear undetected at the top of the lining. Check for signs of wear and tear in areas where pipes or other items may have penetrated the liner (e.g., skimmers, hoses, etc.).
For above ground pools, check metal supports for rust or deterioration. These may indicate areas where the pool could rupture or a person could be injured.
Check the deck for safety hazards (e.g., protruding nails, loose boards, etc.).
Ensure your pool has compliant anti-entrapment drain covers. Inspect them regularly to confirm they are not broken or missing. Visit the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act) for additional information. This act applies for all outdoor and indoor structures intended for swimming or recreational bathing, including in-ground and above-ground pools, hot tubs, spas, whirlpools and non-portable wading pools.
Wildfires can pose particular dangers because they often begin unnoticed and can spread quickly, threatening both lives and property in their paths.
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, you can help keep yourself, your family and your property safe by taking steps to reduce your risks.
Well before a wildfire threatens
Keep your home well maintained by regularly cleaning your gutters and trimming tree limbs that may be too close to your home. Be sure your smoke alarms are working, fire extinguishers are operational and a home escape ladder is accessible if you need to evacuate quickly from an upper floor.
Landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind, using fire-resistant shrubs and trees.
Maintain a defensible space zone between structures and natural growth that is free of brush, trees and grasses to help keep a wildfire from getting too close to your property. If you live on a hill, extend that zone on the downhill side, since fire can race uphill quickly.
If you are remodeling your home, think about including fire-resistant materials such as non-combustible roofing and siding and fire-rated glass or fire shutters for windows.
When a wildfire approaches
Stay tuned to local news about wildfires in the area, and follow evacuation instructions given by local officials.
Review emergency plans with your family. Be sure to designate a meeting place and a check-in telephone number if you are separated during evacuation. Also make certain that everyone has emergency numbers stored in their phones.
If you have time, close windows, doors and blinds and shut off utilities. Open the fireplace damper and close fireplace screens.
Have your car ready to leave at a moment’s notice and keep the keys handy. Roll up the windows to keep smoke out.
What to do during a wildfire
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Wear protective clothing, such as a long- sleeved cotton or wool shirt and pants, and take a wet cotton towel or handkerchief to protect your face.
Take your survival kit and choose a route away from fire and smoke. Follow your evacuation plan and be sure everyone knows where to go and what to do.
How to respond after a wildfire
Check with fire officials before attempting to re-enter your home. Use caution when entering since fires can re-ignite quickly, even after dying down.
Discard any food or medication that came in contact with smoke or fire.
At Travelers, we understand that a wildfire can be a frightening and dangerous event. We hope our expertise and insight will help you protect your family and property no matter what comes your way. For more wildfire safety tips, visit the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety® website.
When thinking of the cause of a kitchen fire, it is common to think of cooking. But not all kitchen fires start because of cooking hazards. Non-cooking related fires commonly involve refrigerators, freezers or dishwashers. The following tips can help prevent non-cooking related fires from occurring in your kitchen.
