Critical Days of Summer week four: home and children safety Published June 15, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. James Fountain 17th Training Wing Safety Office GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Our fourth week of the Critical Days of Summer campaign focuses on home and children safety. Every family cooks dinner at some point, irons a shirt, lights a candle or owns some type of heat-producing appliance so it's important for everyone in the house to know how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Everyone should immediately leave the home in a fire emergency. Make plans for different fire emergency scenarios because a fire can suddenly break out and when panic sets in, it can limit good decision making abilities. Have the family practice what, where and how to execute the fire emergency plan. Do monthly checks on smoke alarms to ensure they work. Change the batteries annually and, if possible, replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Other hazards that should be checked for every so often in the home include electrical cords, circuit breakers, windows and cabinet doors. Check electrical cords for cuts or frays and ensure that circuit breakers aren't overloaded. These can be fire hazards and exposed wires can also severely shock a user. If there are children age 5 or younger in the home, install window guards to prevent them from falling out. There are also window stops that can be installed which only allow windows to open up to 4 inches. Child proof locks and latches for cabinet doors can prevent children from getting into cleaning chemicals, medications, utensils or any other hazardous item. Get a first aid kit with assorted bandages that can be applied for different situations. So many people mistakenly think that their home is the safest place on earth, but it can be the most dangerous place if the proper precautions aren't taken.
