Safety For The Season

Home Heating Safety

Heating equipment caused an estimated 50,500 home fires and 500 deaths between 2013 and 2017, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Learn how to stay safe with these tips:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from heat sources.
• Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room or sleeping.
• Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
• Never use a cooking stove to heat your home or dry clothes.
• Place heaters on level, flat surfaces on the ground.
• Have a qualified service professional inspect your heating system annually.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms.
• Never use a space heater or any appliance with a damaged cord.

Prepare for Colder Weather

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety

Whether testing out a new dish or whipping up a family classic, there’s one recipe that should also be included on the menu this holiday season: safety. Follow this “Recipe for Kitchen Safety” and help this year’s festivities create memories instead of danger.

Ingredients for Safety
1. Functioning smoke alarms
2. Functioning ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
3. Vigilance
4. Kitchen timer
5. Clean appliances

Directions
1. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected so that they all sound if one sounds. Test the batteries in each smoke alarm every month, replace them once a year, and replace the unit every ten years.
2. You should clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove regularly. Lastly, vacuum the refrigerator coils every three months to prevent potentially dangerous dirt build-up.
3. It’s easy to forget about something that’s cooking, especially when you’re entertaining guests. Use a kitchen timer to make sure your dish doesn’t become a fire hazard.
4. ENJOY! Being proactive about safety will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your time with loved ones.

Set the Table for Safety

Home Cooking Safety

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Ranges or cooktops cause 62% of home fires, according to the NFPA. Learn how to stay safe with these tips:

• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
• Always unplug countertop alliances when not in use.
• Make sure you have and test GFCI receptacles in your kitchen to prevent shock and electrocution.
• Double-check that everything is off when you finish cooking.
• Prevent fires by keeping your oven and stovetop clean of grease and dust.
• Never leave the kitchen while cooking.
• Never cook while sleepy, drinking alcohol, or taking medication that makes you drowsy.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking.
• Never use a cooking stove to heat your home.

Prevent Cooking Fires

UL Standards & Engagement Facebook Live Event

Our partner, Be Safe Buy Real, is hosting a Facebook Live event, “Smart Holiday Shopping: How to Avoid Counterfeits This Season,” ahead of Anti-Counterfeiting Week. On Wednesday, November 2, industry experts will join together to discuss current counterfeiting trends and will provide listeners with information and advice on how to avoid counterfeit products ahead of the holiday season. We hope you’ll join the conversation! Register here.

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EST

Moderator:
• Monica Mena, Director, Education and Anti-Counterfeiting, UL Standards & Engagement

Presenters:
• Christina Mitropoulos, Director, External Relations – Anticounterfeiting, INTA
• Jay Kennedy, Customer Trust Relations, Amazon
• Zach Toczyński, Sr. Director, Global Brand Protection, Levi Strauss & Co.

Thank you for all you do to make your community a safer place!

Sincerely,

Electrical Safety Foundation International

Heidi