K
eep your family safe from home fires this holiday season! The leading causes of fire-related deaths in the US; cooking and heating the home. As we get into the holiday season, we are facing the three months out of the year where fire-deaths peak (November, December and January). With temperatures dropping, this is the perfect time to review home fire safety.

Minimize Your Risks

Did you know – Over the past 4 decades, home fires deaths in the U.S. have steadily gone down according to Injury Facts.

But we feel like any preventable fire death is too many. Another difficult statistic is that fire deaths are the third leading cause of children between the ages of 1-14 dying here in the United States.  So here are a few tips in how to prevent a fire in your home in this season.

Heating is the second leading cause of home fires. Follow these tips from the American Red Cross:

  • Keep all flammables, like paper, clothing, bedding, drapes or rugs, at least 3 feet from a space heater, stove or fireplace
  • Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room
  • If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, nonflammable surface, like ceramic tile, not on a rug or carpet
  • Keep children and pets away from space heaters
  • When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over

In addition to cooking, other top causes of fire include smoking, electrical problems and candles. To minimize risks:

  • Institute a “no smoking” policy in the house
  • Check all cords and replace any that are frayed or have bare wires
  • Switch to flameless candles
  • Keep matches and lighters high and out of children’s reach in a locked cabinet