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With schools out for the summer, many families will be spending more time at home.   The increased time and activities at home can also increase the chance of being injured, something experienced by one out of every four families, according to a recent Home Safety Council ® survey.   To help families reduce accidents and injuries at home, First Alert ® and the Home Safety Council are working together to urge families to take stock of their home safety plans during June Home Safety Month.


"June is an ideal time for families to spend a few hours together to prepare their homes inside and outside for a fun and family-oriented summer," said Debbie Hanson, director of external affairs at First Alert.  "Reviewing potential risks with every member of our family and taking proper precautions through a room-by-room safety audit will increase your knowledge and reduce the risk of serious injury."   Surprisingly, the Home Safety Council Safety Survey finds that nearly half (46 percent) of respondents have not taken any action to prevent the leading causes of home injury. 


The Home Safety Council and First Alert suggest the following easy-to-follow tips that can help keep family members, friends and loved ones safe this summer:


Fire Safety & Escape Planning

•    Install smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level of  the home

•    Test smoke alarms at least once a month

•    Change the batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year or when the low-battery signal chirps

•    Never remove batteries from smoke alarms, unless replacing them with fresh ones. Otherwise, it is easy to forget to replace them, leaving you unprotected from fire.

•    Keep a fire extinguisher or Tundra ® Fire Extinguishing Spray in your kitchen and near other areas where a fire could occur, such as in a workshop, garage or near the grill

•    Create and practice a home escape plan at least twice a year, making sure everyone is involved -- from kids to grandparents

Poison Prevention

•    Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level and outside each sleeping area

•    Never operate fossil-fuel burning appliances, such as a gas grill, indoors or in the garage - even with the garage door open

•    Inspect the pilot lights on natural gas appliances to ensure that the flame is blue.  When a flame is mostly yellow in color, it is likely producing carbon monoxide.

•    Clean out the lint and debris that may build up in the clothes dryer vent that leads to the outside of the house

•    Never leave an automobile running in a garage, even with the garage door open  

Home Security

•    Keep doors and windows locked, and don't forget the garage and shed

•    Make sure locks are functioning properly and that everyone inside the home can open them

•    Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can't hide

•    Don't leave equipment, tools, bikes or toys in the yard

•    Cancel mail and newspaper delivery while on vacation

Backyard & Garage

•    Designate the grilling area a "no play zone" keeping kids and pets well away until equipment is completely cool

•    Check grill connections, such as fuel lines, for leaks and never operate the grill closer than three feet from the home, trees, shrubs or other objects

•    Keep children away from pools, ponds or ditches

•    Tie-down outdoor furniture and equipment prior to severe storms to help prevent debris from taking flight.   Consider using Cordzilla, a new stretch rope available in lengths up to five feet, to secure objects. This product features a bungee encased in a flexible polypropylene rope for added strength and security

"Conducting a home safety audit can help identify potential danger areas of the home and where to properly place safety and security equipment for maximum protection," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council.  "It also gives homeowners the opportunity to prepare in advance for emergencies and develop appropriate escape and preparedness plans to reduce the threat of accidents and injuries."