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Safe
& Sound
- Light
Your Holidays Safely
Don't be among the 12,000 statistics -- follow these tips to ensure
the glow you put into your Christmas display doesn't come with
an injury.
- True
Heat in the Kitchen
Believe it or not, cooking is the leading cause of home fires
and injuries. Check out this excellent advice for staying safe
where your family gathers to dine and converse.
- When
the Weather Outside is Frightful
Sorry, but when the snow flies, homeowners do have a responsibility
to take care of it. Don't let it build up into a bigger problem.
Use these guidelines to keep your property safe, and stay out
of harm's way yourself.
- Was
That Your Car?
Is your vehicle among the 10 most wanted?
- Fire
Facts: Why 96 Is a Magic Number
Find out what's important about 96 hours from the Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department. Hint: It's an important fire-prevention
tip.
Electrical
Issues: Light Up the Night
Forget
a white Christmas. You're dreaming of a "light" Christmas, with
a yard all aglow in twinkle lights and electric reindeer. But be
careful: 12,000 people a year are injured in decorating-related
accidents. Safely brighten up your holidays with these outdoor tips
from John Drengenberg, an electrical engineer with Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
- Read labels.
Not all string lights can handle the stresses of the outdoors.
A green UL mark on the label indicates it's for indoor use only;
a red UL mark means it's safe to use both indoors and outdoors.
- Use plastic
hooks. Don't hang lights using metal nails, screws, or staples;
as the wind blows, the cord can rub against the metal, fraying
the cord and exposing wires.
- Climb
a fiberglass or wood ladder. Aluminum conducts electricity,
making it a dangerous choice when stringing lights.
- Toss ‘em.
Throw away any light strings with cracked sockets and frayed
or bare wires.
- Don't
go inside out. If your home lacks outdoor outlets, it's tempting
to run extension cords from inside a house or garage. Bad idea,
says Drengenberg. The pinching action of a window, door, or garage
door can damage a cord's insulation, increasing the chance of
fire.
- Stay high.
Route electrical cords away from low areas in a yard where water
collects. The cycle of freezing and thawing is hazardous.
- Pack it
up. When the holidays are over, the light show should be too.
"These are temporary, decorative lights," reminds Drengenberg.
"We're most worried about the people who keep their lights up
year-round." That's because even outdoor light strings are only
certified for use for 90 days at a time; they're vulnerable to
damage from severe cold, the sun's UV rays, squirrels, and rodents.
"You could have a problem you don't even see," he says.
Kitchen
Safety: Good to Go
Don't turn your take-out food -- or your house -- into toast. Cooking
is a leading cause of home fires and injuries, so be alert to these
potential dangers:
- Take-out
containers. Those handy fold-up paper boxes often have metal handles,
which can cause arcing -- and fires -- in a microwave.
- Rotisserie
chicken. At the grocery store, these ready-to-eat chickens are
often sold in plastic containers that may not be safe in either
the oven or the microwave.
- Pizza. It's
so convenient to stick the box in the oven on warm. But don't
forget: The box is paper, which can burn easily.
Instead of thinking about safety, says Judy Comoletti of the National
Fire Protection Association, we're thinking about saving on the
dishes. When reheating food, take time to put it in the proper
baking dish; most say if they're microwave- or oven-safe on the
bottom.
Home Work: Ho Ho Snow
Give the heave-ho to snowflakes for the safety of your home and
car.
- Roofs.
Too much snow on your roof is double trouble: Roofs can collapse
from excessive weight, and ice dams can form, causing leaks in
the house. (Ice dams are ice buildups that cause water to creep
under shingles and make its way into a house.) You can use a snow
rake from the ground to remove snow. Never climb on the roof because
of the danger; call a professional instead.
- Sidewalks.
Most homeowners are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks.
Don't delay -- if someone slips and falls, you could be liable.
- Cars.
You scrape off your windows and mirrors, but did you remember
the car's roof? Take time to clear it off -- before the snow flies
off when you gather speed, blinding the driver behind you.
Quick
Tip: On a sloppy winter day, you can easily use half a gallon
-- or more -- of washer fluid while clearing your car's windshield.
So keep extra fluid in the cargo space just in case.
Dude,
Where's My Car?
Thieves may
have stolen your car, especially if it's on this list of the 10
most stolen cars from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. (2005
statistics.)
1991 Honda Accord
1995 Honda Civic
1989 Toyota Camry
1994 Dodge Caravan
1994 Nissan Sentra
1997 Ford F-150 Series
1990 Acura Integra
1986 Toyota Pickup
1993 Saturn SL
2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
96
Hours
That is the
minimum time it takes ashes from a fireplace, grill, or woodstove
to cool before they can be safely disposed of. So says the Fairfax
County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department. Put all ashes in a
metal container with a lid, douse with water, then store away from
your house and other combustibles until they're absolutely cold.
Never put them in a paper or plastic container, which could easily
catch fire. Cool fact: Wood ashes contain nutrients that can improve
the soil in many gardens; ask a gardening store for advice on reusing
yours.
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Get
the Advantage from MetLife Auto & Home: BUYING A NEW CAR?
Auto
insurance rates are driven in part by a vehicle's theft
potential. Before you drive off the lot, compare the premiums
on all the cars you'd like to purchase. Call MetLife Auto
& Home for free quotes.
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