safety: Articles tagged with “safety”

Window films can improve the effectiveness of glass in your home. Window tint films can reduce the amount of damaging rays that reach you through your windows. Window films can reduce your cooling costs and also increase safety if glass is accidentally broken.

Security cameras are becoming an increasingly popular way for the public to protect property and people. Once considered the exclusive realm of the rich, video surveillance, like most high-tech products, has become increasingly affordable.

Basement and other ground floor windows, and windows opening to a fire escape are easy invitations for an intruder to enter a home. Strong security bars are an easy solution to foil this possibility.

Wildfires are a frightening and deadly natural disaster, which spread with rapid speed and can destroy everything in their path. Homeowners can take precautions to protect their homes from wildfires by using the following list of tips:

The most frightening thing about tornados and hurricanes is the uncertainty of when one might hit, and how strong it will be. Tornados and hurricanes can level a town in a matter of minutes. While you cannot guarantee that your home will not be damaged in a tornado or hurricane, you can take a few steps to lessen the impact and provide safety for you and your family. Here is a list to help you prepare for either of these natural disasters:

House fires are frightening and deadly. Homeowners should make sure that their homes are not susceptible to fire. Here is a list of fire prevention tips.

Here are some basic tips for dealing with thunderstorms and protecting your property from the damage they can cause.

If you're considering installing a lightning protection system, here's a statistic to consider. According to data compiled by Westinghouse Electric Company, given an average location and exposure, a 50 ft. high building stands a greater chance of being struck by lightning once a year than a card player has of filing an ordinary flush in a poker game. In the United States the average geographic area is subjected to 40 lightning strokes per square mile every year.

Lead was used in paint and gasoline before 1978 and is known to be toxic. Lead poisoning, caused by an accumulation of lead in the bloodstream over the long or short term, damages the brain, kidneys and nerves. It is injested by eating paint chips, putting hands which have touched unstable lead paint in the mouth and inhaling lead dust. Children and pregnant women are especially susceptible. One in 11 children in America has dangerous levels of lead in their blood.

Lead Abatement Basics

Lead abatement (removal) must be handled by a licensed and certified hazardous material contractor. Workers must wear protective suits and respirators. When working indoors, the process begins by removing furnishings and sealing the affected area with plastic.

Storm shelters can be installed by a manufacturer's representative, licensed contractor or homeowner. Some manufacturers will only provide warrantees on shelters installed by their own distributors. Others require they be installed by licensed contractors. Others offer to give consumers installation instructions.

As Jimmy Buffet once wrote, 'If you live in the area, you have to know how to reason with hurricane season.' Here are some tips.

Security systems are only as strong as their weakest link and if you set up equipment that's too complicated for household members to use, they are likely to ignore the equipment or work around it.

This guide will help you make a systematic analysis of your home and help you select the best course of action to improve home security for you and your family.

These simple tips can help to keep you and your family safe from fire.

Smoke Detectors, Fire Extinguishers

Smoke is responsible for three out of four fire-related deaths. Working smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home and inside sleeping areas. Inexpensive smoke detectors are also available for the hearing impaired. Fire extinguishers should be mounted in the kitchen, garage and workshop. Purchase an ABC type extinguisher for putting out all types of fires. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year. Install a chimney spark arrester to help prevent roof fires.

Fire extinguishers have a role for only a brief moment at the beginning of a fire. The key is to place fire extinguishers throughout the house so that no matter where the fire starts, an extinguisher will be near at hand. There should be one in the kitchen, garage, workshop, basement and near any sleeping areas. There should be at least one extinguisher on each floor.

As parents, we all want our children to be safe. No matter how safe we think our children are at home, the fact is that every day, thousands of children are injured needlessly due to avoidable household accidents. Every year, nearly 4.5 million children are seriously injured in their homes.

These simple childproofing steps can help to insure your child's safety:

Here is a checklist of things you can do to make your home safer.