MATCHES AND SMOKING
Keep matches and
lighters out of the reach III children. Place good-sized, deep ashtrays in
every room. Use only though of ashtray that will keep cigarettes from fallen
out. Check or wet down ashtrays before emptying them into wastebaskets. When
smoking in a chair, put out your cigarette or cigar at the first feeling of
drowsiness. Make it a rule never to smoke in bed, while lying on a sofa, or
reclining in a chair that invites sleep. And before going to bed, make certain
no pipe, cigar, or cigarette has been left burning anywhere. Remember that
smoking and careless placement of matches constitutes the greatest fire hazard
in the home.
ELECTRICITY
Electric wiring and
appliances are the No. 2 cause of home fires. Overloaded circuits, "octopus"
outlets, wrong amp fuses, forgotten irons, frayed Wiring-all are dangerous. Use
the right size fuse, usually 15 amperes, for your circuits. Don't use a penny
for "convenience" when a fuse blows and don't substitute a larger amp
fuse. A fuse is a safety valve for an electric circuit; if the fuse has greater
capacity than the circuit and so will not burn out when the circuit is
overloaded (and, of course, a penny will not burn out), then fire may occur
somewhere in the circuit, perhaps in a wall. Don't overload your wall outlets.
If you need more places to plug in lamps or appliances, call in an electrician.
See that your TV antenna is rigged so it cannot fall across a power line, and
have it equipped with a lightning arrestor. Also, keep an air space behind and
around your TV set.
Unless you really know your business, don't try to make any
internal repairs to a TV set, even if it is disconnected. A set builds up a
heavy charge of static electricity that can give you a dangerous jolt even when
the plug is out. Buy irons and electrical cooking appliances that have
heat-limit controls. And be fussy about making certain that irons are turned
off after use and before leaving the house. Never procrastinate about repairing
a frayed electric cord. Check appliances, or have them checked regularly to
make certain they are in good operating condition.
