Fire Safety Tips

With the news about the opening of a fire training facility on Hillhouse Rd, I thought about making a blog concerning fire safety tips. This new fire traingin facility came about as a partnership between Anderson County, the city of Anderson, and the Legislative Delegation. This facility will make it easier and safer for the volunteer firefighters to train.

The City of Anderson owns the property, and Anderson County provided financial support through a general obligation bond. Area law enforcement agencies, emergency preparedness offices, public works departments, private industry and surrounding county fire departments are allowed to use the facility.

Since hearing about the new facility, I started thinking about fire safety. What can we do to prevent us from ever needing to call the fire department? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

• If there are children in the home, lock up matches and cigarette lighters.
• Don't hang potholders or dishtowels over the burners on the stove. Store them away from the stovetop.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Never leave home or go to bed with your Christmas tree lights on.
• Never use a higher watt lightbulb than a lamp manufacturer suggests.
• Use salt or soda to put out a grease fire in your kitchen; never throw water on it.
• Have an established family escape route and have regular fire drills. If your house has more than one story, keep a fire safety ladder under each bed. Plan ahead where you'll all meet outside.
• Teach your family the American Red Cross rule if their clothes ever catch on fire: Stop running, Drop to the ground, and Roll over to put out the flames.
• Keep papers, curtains, and other flammable material away from hot radiators, portable heaters, and lighted fireplaces.
• Make sure that your child's sleepwear is flame resistant, and wash it according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Be very careful with portable kerosene heaters. Use them only when you are in the room; turn them off any time you leave the room.
• For homes with children, put up guards around space heaters, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.
• Don't overload circuits by putting too many plugs in an outlet.
• For lamps or small appliances, don't use extension cords that dangle and can be pulled. Children can pull the appliance down and injure themselves as well as start a fire.
• Don't let your children play with firecrackers or any type of explosives.
• Buy fire extinguishers, and learn how to use them. Place them where they are most likely to be needed, such as the kitchen. Check periodically to be sure they are in good working order.

Every home contains hazards that can cause injuries, or even deaths. However, you can create a safe home environment by learning about the potential hazards in your home and taking proper precautions to safeguard yourself and others. Use the safety tips in this article to ensure that you and your loved ones have a long and healthy life in your home