This week is Fire Prevention Week and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well as other experts have tips on preventing fires in your Hollywood or Florida home:
1) Install smoke detectors and check them routinely.
This week is a good time to change the batteries on your smoke detectors, check to make sure that they are working, and perhaps pick up an extra detector or two for your home. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector, this is also a good time to buy one and install it. While smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors do not prevent fires, they can help you and your family escape in time to avoid serious injury.
2) Develop an emergency plan for your home.
If there was a fire in your home, would you and your family know how to get out? Check the NFPA website for tips on preventing fires and developing your own fire escape plan. Make sure to write down your plan and practice it with everyone in your home.
3) Have your heating systems inspected and cleaned.
Your chimney and furnace should be inspected and cleaned annually. If you have a fireplace, have the fireplace cleaned professionally and learn how to dispose of cooled ashes safely in a metal container. If you use space heaters, check the cords and wires on them and set the heaters up so that there is adequate space between the heaters and any flammable materials (such as furniture or papers).
4) Check the cords in your home.
Never plug appliances into an outlet that does not have sufficient capacity. Replace any cords that are frayed, split, or damaged. Do not use extension cords and do not trail power cords under rugs or through high traffic areas where people might step on them.
5) Get into the habit of checking your home before you leave the house.
Any portable heaters should be turned off, as should your stove and oven.
6) Use extra caution around open flame.
Many families have open fire pits in the yard to add ambiance or use candles indoors to add a soft light and scent. If you use these types of décor items, make sure that you use them responsibly. Never leave a fire pit, candle, or other open flame unattended, and always extinguish it completely if you are leaving your yard or the room.
7) Learn how to treat a burn.
While most burn injuries in Hollywood and Florida tend to be quite minor and require at-home care, some burns can affect mobility and can even prove fatal. Consider signing up for a first aid course this fall. This type of class can help teach you how to protect yourself and your family in the event of an injury.
Have you been injured in a fire caused by someone’s negligence? Explore your legal options and learn about your rights by calling Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-FLAXMAN (1-866-352-9626). Flaxman Law Group is a South Florida law firm with offices in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience and as a full service law firm our team has the resources to handle every aspect of personal injury cases in Miami-Dade County, South Miami Heights, Broward County, and all South Florida areas.