Appliance Fire Safety

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 20,000 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only had the information they needed to avoid a disaster. The U.S. Fire Administration offers the following life-saving tips could make a big difference for you and your community.

Did you know?

Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.
Each year there are 24,300 residential appliance fires resulting in 100 deaths and 925 injuries.
Some electrical fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects. However, many more are caused by misuse, poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords.
Having a working smoke alarm reduces one's chance of dying in a fire by nearly a half.

Following these simple fire safety tips can increase your survival rate dramatically.

Appliance Safety Life-Saving Tips

Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside bedrooms. If you keep your bedroom doors closed, place a smoke alarm in each bedroom.
Regularly inspect your extension cords for fraying and never use an extension cord as permanent wiring.
Instead of a simple extension cord, get units with built-in circuit breakers evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Routinely check your wiring. Look for outlets that don't work, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
Never overload outlets or extension cords.
Immediately repair appliances or lamps that sputter or spark.
Keep appliances away from wet areas, especially in the kitchen, bathroom, basement and garage.
If an appliance has a three-prong plug, never force it into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
Don't let children play near electrical space heaters. Keep clothes, curtains and other flammable items at least three feet away from heaters.
Prepare and practice a home fire escape plan.
In case of a fire, crawl or stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke.