Simple safety tips to protect your home

(ARA) - Home may be where the heart is, but it also is where the hazards are.

A survey of 1,000 Americans revealed startling statistics indicating that many of us are at risk of incurring injuries in our own homes every day, some of which could even be fatal, according to a recent study by BRK Brands and The Lehigh Group -- makers of the First Alert brand and Crawford-branded garage and home workshop organization products, respectively. As proud supporters of the nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC), First Alert and Crawford are joining with HSC to spread the word about potential home hazards and tips for protecting loved ones.

The HSC research reports that Americans suffer nearly 21 million preventable household injuries each year.

"Sadly, many home accidents might have been prevented with proper planning and simple safety precautions," says Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for First Alert and The Lehigh Group.

Focusing on some of the most common household hazards, Hanson offers three easy ways to increase the level of safety at home:

Be armed with alarms
Installing smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms will immediately help improve the safety of your home and family. According to the HSC, alarms that detect smoke cut the risk of fire-related fatalities nearly in half.

Although the BRK/Lehigh survey revealed 95 percent of Americans have smoke alarms in their homes, the study also showed that one in 10 Americans have never changed the batteries. Further, more than half have dangerously silenced smoke detectors by removing batteries or removing entire units from walls or ceilings.

"After installing alarms, it is critical to check them regularly to make sure they are in good working condition," says Meri-K Appy, president of the HSC. "We advise homeowners to test alarms monthly and to install fresh batteries at least once a year. Also, if smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them."

The BRK/Lehigh study revealed even more alarming findings about Americans' use -- or lack thereof -- of CO alarms. Despite nearly daily media reports of deaths and injuries from CO poisoning, nearly half -- 47 percent -- of all U.S. homeowners do not have CO alarms in their homes.

"Consumers are generally more aware of the dangers of home fires because fire is something they can see, feel and understand," says Hanson. "Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it attacks without warning and can be deadly."

Known as "the silent killer," CO exposure is the No. 1 cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S. The colorless, odorless gas can originate from anything that burns a fossil fuel -- such as a gas furnace, stove, water heater, barbeque grill, wood-burning fireplace or car.

For the best protection smoke alarms and CO alarms (or a combination unit) should be installed on every level of the home (including the basement) and in every bedroom or sleeping area. For whole home protection, Hanson suggests interconnected alarms, which signal alarms through multiple alarm stations in the home if a threat is detected in a single room. This gives residents more time to react and get everyone to safety. First Alert's ONELINK wireless offerings provides homeowners the protection of interconnected alarms without needing to call an electrician to install them in the home's electrical system.

Extinguish fear (and flames)
Another home safety must-have, according to Hanson, is a fire extinguisher, especially critical during the early stages of a fire. Still, more than a quarter of Americans report not owning a fire extinguisher, according to the BRK/Lehigh survey. And, more than one-third of those who do own a traditional home extinguisher say they would not feel "very confident" operating it should a fire ignite.

One easy-to-operate solution is Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray. Effective on cooking oil, fabric, wood and electrical fires, this 14-ounce point-and-spray can covers a wider surface area and provides users with more time to fight a fire than conventional fire extinguishers.

Get a grip on garage dangers
When it comes to home safety, one of the most often overlooked areas of the home also is one of the most dangerous. Each year, the garage is the site of thousands of unintentional injuries ranging from punctures and poisoning to fatal falls.

According to the BRK/Lehigh survey, nearly four in 10 Americans have tripped over an item in their cluttered garage; more than a quarter have hit an object when opening a vehicle door; and 22 percent have accidentally hit or run over something when parking.

Hanson suggests giving your garage a quick safety makeover with these tips courtesy of the HSC:

* Store shovels, rakes, lawn chairs, gardening tools, bikes and other sharp and large objects on the wall and out of high-traffic areas.

* Store ladders horizontally. This prevents tipping and discourages children from climbing on them.

* Make sure poisonous products have child-resistant caps, are clearly labeled and are stored out of sight and reach of children.

* Keep floors and steps clear of clutter and immediately clean up grease and spills.

* Mount a fire extinguisher and an emergency preparedness kit in the garage and make sure every family member knows where they are and how to use them.

For home safety tips, visit www.firstalert.com or www.homesafetycouncil.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent