Halloween is just around the corner and it is time to get your costumes ready and take the kids out to trick or treat!  The Lawhead Team always encourages safety and we would like to share some fire prevention tips for the Halloween season.

These Halloween Fire Safety tips are from the US Fire Administration:

Halloween is a fun holiday but it’s also an important time to practice fire safety. The occurrence of fire increases around Halloween due to arson and the use of candles as decorations. Follow these tips for a happy and fire-safe Halloween:

• If you buy a costume, make sure the label says “Flame Resistant.”  Flame Resistant means the costume will be hard to catch on fire and if it does, the fire will go out fast.
• If you make a Halloween costume, try not to make one that is big and baggy so that the material doesn’t touch candles or other flames.  Use flame-resistant fabrics, such as polyester and nylon.  These materials will resist burning if exposed to a flame.
• Tell kids to stay away from candles and jack-o’-lanterns that may be on steps and porches.  Their costumes could catch fire if they get too close.
• Kids should never carry candles when they are trick-or-treating.  Always use a flashlight, flameless candle, or light stick.
• Tell kids to let you know right away if they see other kids playing with matches or lighters.
• Don’t use candles for decorations.  They’re dangerous, especially when left unattended.
• Use only decorative Halloween lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.  Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.  Throw away damaged sets.  Don’t overload extension cords.
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for the latest on Halloween-related consumer product recalls.
• If you have a Halloween party, check for cigarettes under furniture cushions and in areas where people were smoking before you go to bed.
• Remove any materials around your home or property, such as garbage or excess vegetation, which an arsonist could use to start a fire.

Taken from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/halloween.shtm

The Lawhead Team would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!

Home fires are definitely something to be concerned about and everyone should take precaution in their home to prevent fires from starting.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some tips to preventing home fires.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that while 95 percent of U.S. homes have smoke alarms, 70 percent of home fire deaths occur where there is no working alarm. What’s more, about half of the 2,670 people killed in home fires in 2002 died between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the prime sleep hours, even though only one-fourth of home fires occurred during those times. Those most affected by the lack of warning are young children and the elderly.

Indeed, these are frightening statistics. But there is something you can do to help prevent home fires and detect them before they get out of control. After all, safety should never take a vacation, and planning for an emergency just makes good sense. Here are some tips to ensure that you and your family are safe and secure:

• Smoke Alarms – Install them if you have none, and check the ones you do have. Press the test button once a month and change batteries every year. Also, smoke alarms older than 10 years are more likely to fail. Consider installing one of the newest alarm innovations that features both a voice and alarm warning.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms – Equally as important as smoke alarms is having a unit that will alert you of high levels of carbon monoxide in the home. Check the unit’s packaging and also with your local fire department to learn more about what constitutes a hazardous CO reading. Some manufacturers now offer units that combine smoke and CO protection.
• Heating Equipment – Heating equipment is a leading factor in home fires during winter months. Be sure to have furnaces serviced by a reputable inspector, cleaned and maintained each fall before cold weather sets in. When operating portable or fixed space heaters, be conscious to keep them away from items that could ignite, including drapes and articles of clothing.
• Personal Habits – Be conscious of where you are when you do the things you do. Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths, sending bedding, trash and furniture up in flames. More fires start in the kitchen than any other place in the home, so keep a watchful eye on what you’re cooking. Candle fires have tripled over the last 10 years, with some 40 percent of those fires beginning in a bedroom.
• Flammables – Ensure that flammables, such as gasoline, kerosene and paints, are kept in proper containers, tightly sealed and stored away from heat and flame. Never store any of those items near a furnace or hot water heater, and be sure to follow manufacturer instructions on storing these types of products.
• Extinguishers – Many small home fires can be taken care of using a fire extinguisher before they get out of hand. The National Safety Council’s Web site, www.nsc.org, suggests keeping an extinguisher rated for grease and electrical fires in the kitchen. Also place properly-rated units near the furnace and in the garage. One thing to remember, though, is that extinguishers do not last forever. Even if the needle is “in the green,” plan on replacing the unit about every three years.