Use the following checklist as
a guide to identify possible
fi re safety problems in your
apartment. If you answer “no” to
any question below, the potential
hazard should be corrected immediately
to reduce your risk and increase
your preparedness for fire.
Contact LeFrak City Maintenance
Services to help remedy any safety
issues.
• Do you have at least one operable
smoke alarm?
• Do you have at least one operable
carbon monoxide alarm?
• Are all electrical cords in good
condition, not frayed or cracked?
• Are all electrical cords in the
open, not run under rugs or
through doorways?
• Is your apartment free from storage
of flammable products?
• Are space heaters placed at least
three feet from combustibles?
• Are space heaters plugged directly
into wall sockets and not into
extension cords?
• Is your fire escape window clear
and unobstructed?
• Can all windows be opened easily
from the inside?
• Do you have operable flashlights
handy?
• Do you have a fire escape plan?
PREVENTION:
It’s the fi rst and best defense!
HEATING
As temperatures drop, it’s important
to remember heat safety. Heating
equipment is the second leading
cause of U.S. home fi res and home-fi re
deaths. To remain safe during the fall
and winter chill, remember:
• Keep a three-foot clearance between
all heating equipment and anything
that can burn.
• Do not use your oven to heat your
home.
• When buying a new space heater,
make sure it has a label showing that
it has been tested by a recognized
testing laboratory.
• Space heaters should be turned off
every time you leave the room and
before going to bed.
• Space heater power cords should be
plugged directly into a wall outlet
and never into an extension cord.
• Always supervise children when
space heaters are being used.
ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS
WHEN COOKING
Cooking is the main cause of home
fi res and injuries in the U.S., and the
leading cause of cooking fi res is unattended
cooking. Always follow these
precautions when cooking:
FIRE
• Stay alert and check on cooking
regularly.
• Make sure there is always an adult
in the kitchen when the stove is on.
• Keep kids away from cooking area.
• Always turn the stove off when
leaving the kitchen, even for a moment.
• Keep fl ammable items away from
heat, such as potholders and oven
mitts, bags and boxes, towels and
curtains.
• Install and use cooking appliances
according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom
30 DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.QNS.COM | LEFRAK CITY COURIER
and outside each sleeping
area.
• Test smoke alarms regularly.
BE VERY CAREFUL
WITH CANDLES
To prevent a candle-fire in your
home, always follow these safeguards:
• Never leave burning candles unattended;
be sure to blow them out
whenever you leave a room, even
for a short time.
• Do not keep candles within reach
of children.
• Be sure to extinguish all candles
completely before going to sleep.
• Do not burn candles near any fl ammable
items such as fabric or paper.
IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT
IN YOUR APARTMENT:
• Get everyone out immediately and
stay low as you go.
• Use the safest and most accessible
exit.
• CLOSE ALL DOORS as you leave.
• If using an interior stairway, alert
people on your fl oor by knocking
on their doors on your way out.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR.
• Call 911 once you reach a safe location.
TEACH YOUR
CHILDREN THE FACTS
ABOUT FIRE:
Many children will try to hide from
a fi re, oft en in a closet, under a bed, or
in a corner. But if taught basic fi re facts,
they’d be better able to protect themselves.
Teach your kids that fires spread
quickly, that most fi re-related deaths are
not from burns but from smoke inhalation,
and that dangerous fumes can
overcome a person in just a few minutes.
KIDS SHOULD LEARN
TO:
• Cover their mouths and noses with a
moist towel or an article of clothing
to keep out dangerous fumes while
evacuating
• Crawl under the smoke to safety,
staying as low to the ground as possible,
because smoke always rises
• Touch any door (not the doorknob)
to see if it is hot. If it is, do not open
it — fi nd another exit
• Locate the nearest stairway marked
“Fire Exit”
• Always avoid elevators during a fi re
• Never stop to take personal belongings
or pets
• Never stop to make a phone call (even
to 911) while evacuating
• Never go back into a burning building
once safely outside
• Stop, drop, and roll to extinguish
fl ames if an article of clothing catches
on fi re
• Kids should also always be dressed
for bed in fl ame-retardant sleepwear.