Protecting Your Home from Fire

It only takes a matter of minutes for a home to be completely ravaged and destroyed by fire, but most home fires can be prevented. It all starts be being aware that the danger exists, and then taking the necessary steps to safeguard against fire in your home. In many cases, you don�t have to lose your home and possessions to fire, if you think ahead and take action now. Even though you likely have protection against fire with your homeowner�s insurance coverage, that money can�t replace your memories, your photographs, and other memorabilia you may have.

Candles are very popular nowadays, to add that extra romantic feel to a home, or even for fragrance. While candles are beautiful when lit, they can pose a real threat to your home, particularly if left unattended. If you have candles in your home, you should make certain that you blow them out whenever you leave the room, even if only for a few minutes. In the amount of time it takes you to go answer the door, your home could catch on fire thanks to an unattended candle. Never place candles near anything that could catch on fire, such as curtains, furniture, clothing, papers, etc. Even if your candle is placed in a heavy glass holder, it could still get hot enough to break the glass, creating a very real fire hazard.

When you use appliances, such as toasters, coffee makers, waffle irons, etc., make certain that you immediately unplug them when you are finished. Never leave them plugged up, as this could definitely cause a fire in the right circumstances. Even if you turn the power off of the item, it still isn�t safe until it is unplugged from the power source. Remember that these items get very hot, and if placed next to any kind of flammable material, could also be a potential fire hazard.

You should check all of your power cords at least once every three months, and maybe even more often if you have pets or small children. Frayed cords, either from frequent use, age, or mistreatment, could very easily cause a fire to occur in your home, so it is important not to overlook this task.

If you have children at home, you should teach them about the dangers or fire, and what to do in case a fire did occur. Talk to them about how matches, lighters, etc., could cause potential fires, and why they should never play with these items. If your children are home alone, they shouldn�t try to cook their own food, opting instead to eat foods that come straight from the cabinet or refrigerator instead, as cooking could also cause a potential fire. If you aren�t sure that your children can obey these rules, then they should not be left home alone.

Make certain that you have working alarms and extinguishers located throughout your home. Test them on a regular basis to make certain they are in good repair. Teach your children and everyone in your home how and when to use an extinguisher, and have them checked frequently as well, according to the manufacturer�s recommendations.

Senior safety THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN (The Republican)

Where there's smoke, there's not always fire - especially if your home has a smoke detector.

Jury awards $1 million in punitive damages in nursing home trial (Orange County Register)

An Orange County jury awarded $1 million in punitive damages Thursday against a senior services company that runs a Laguna Hills home.

First ever Food Safety Week in Malta (Maltamedia.com Daily News)

The first ever “Food Safety Week”  is being held in Malta from the 15-22 May to raise awareness on food safety.    Food safety awareness is gaining momentum in many countries as food borne illnesses are on the rise. The risks of food contamination escalate when food products pass through several handling processes.

MISSING MALAYSIANS FOUND -3 (Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News)

Thousands of tourists cut off by landslides and snapped communication have been evacuated to safety in Sichuan, a popular destination known for its colourful ethnic communities and the Jiuzhaigou lake mountain city.

PocketFinder Personal Location Devices Use GPS Technology to Keep . Families Connected (InfoBolsa)

Families Connected 15/05/2008 08:35:00 Business Wire In today s mobile society of single parents and dual-income spouses, heads of families are often absent from home and unable to stay connected with their children, elderly parents and other loved ones and unable to verify that they are where they are supposed to be.