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Hampton Township Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department Fire Prevention |
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· SPACE HEATERS NEED SPACE. PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS NEED THREE-FOOT CLEARANCE FROM ANYTHING THAT CAN BURN AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE TURN OFF WHEN LEAVING THE ROOM OR TO SLEEP
· WHEN PURCHASING A NEW HEATING UNIT, MAKE SURE IT CARRIES THE MARK OF AN INDEPENDENT TESTING LAB SUCH AS UL .MAKE SURE THAT ALL INSTALLATIONS ARE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS AND DONE BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN
· WOOD, STOVES, FIREPLACES, CHIMNEYS AND CHIMNEY CONNECTIONS AND ALL HEATING EQUIPMENT NEED TO BE INSPECTED ANNUALLY BY A PROFESSIONAL
AND CLEANED AS PER MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. IF THE MANUFACTURER DOESN’T STATE HOW OFTEN TO CLEAN, IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST ANNUALLY
· WHEN CLEANING THE OLD ASHES FROM YOUR STOVE OR FIREPLACE, PLACE ALL ASHES IN A METAL CAN AND REMOVE THE CAN FROM THE HOUSE. THE CAN SHOULD BE PLACED AWAY FROM THE HOME AND LEFT IN THE METAL CAN UNTIL COOLED OR ASSURED THAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED. DON’T PLACE THEM ON A PORCH, IN A BOX. ASHES STAY HOT FOR UP TO A WEEK.
· PORTABLE KEROSENE HEATER MUST BE FUELED IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREAS. KEEP THE UNIT AWAY FROM ANY COMBUSTIBLES. NEVER US GASOLINE AND REMEMBER, KEROSENE IS TO BE STORED IN A BLUE CAN
· ALL HEATING UNITS DESCRIBED HERE CAN BURN YOU JUST BY TOUCH. IT’S IMPORTANT TO MONITOR ALL UNITS WHEN IN OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE HOME.
· MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPER VENTILATION IN YOUR HOME. ALL OF THE DEVICES MENTION CAN CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN EVERY HOME.
· MAKE SURE ALL OF THE SMOKE DETECTORS IN YOUR HOME ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE EACH LEVEL OF YOUR HOME. IN ALL NEW HOMES THERE ARE SMOKE DETECTOR IN EACH BEDROOM AND ONE EVERY LEVEL. CHANGE THE BATTERIES TWICE A YEAR AND TEST YOUR DETECTOR MONTHLY.
· PRACTICE YOUR HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE, CREATE ONE. ALWAYS HAVE TWO WAYS OUT OF YOUR HOME AND HAVE EVERYONE MEET AT A DESIGNATED MEETING PLACE OUTSIDE THE HOME. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH DESIGNING YOUR PLAN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. @ 973 - 940 -7322