Springs Basic Safety Items

Spring is in the air! The weather is getting nicer, the birds are chirping in the morning, and soon the grass will be turning green.

However, spring is not the time to overlook some basic safety items:

Smoke Alarms:
60% of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Midwest Integrated Solutions recommends that you test your smoke alarms at least once a month and replace the battery annually. If your smoke alarm starts chirping, change the battery immediately. Always keep spare batteries on hand, if possible.
If you don’t already have them, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of a home. You can reduce false alarms by making sure you don’t mount the smoke alarm too close to a furnace or stove.
MIS also recommends purchasing smoke alarms that are interconnected. If one smoke alarm activates, they should all activate. That increases the odds of everyone in the household hearing them and getting to safety quickly.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors:
CO is produced whenever a material burns. Homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages are more likely to have CO problems. Common sources of CO in our homes include fuel-burning appliances and devices such as:
  • Clothes dryers
  • Water heaters
  • Furnaces or boilers
  • Fireplaces, both gas, and wood-burning
  • Gas stoves and ovens
  • Motor vehicles
  • Grills, generators, power tools, lawn equipment
  • Wood stoves
  • Tobacco smoke
I also learned the hard way that my 12Volt battery backup on my sump pump can emit CO.
Other recommendations for a Safe Spring:
Have an emergency plan in place for the types of disasters that could occur in your area:
  • Fires
  • Floods
  • Tornados
  • Earthquakes, etc.
Keep an emergency kit in your home and car. The kit(s) should include:
  • Water; One gallon per person, per day
  • Food; At least a 3-Day supply
  • First Aid Kit; Make sure it is updated
  • Cell Phone; Charger
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Medicines
  • A battery-powered radio
It would also be a good idea to check with local public safety agencies for additional information, including the fire department, police department, emergency service and disaster agencies, and/or the National Safety Council.
If you would like more information, please contact Midwest Integrated Solutions at (815) 933-8376. Or check out some of the other services we provide here. https://midwestintegrated.com/