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The U.S. fire department responds to an average of 7,700 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including an average of 3,200 structure fires and 4,500 outside fires. These 7,700 fires caused an annual average of 13 deaths, 120 injuries and $70 million in direct property damage. To make sure your next barbecue doesn’t go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:

• Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone”, keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
• Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
• Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.
• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
• Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
• Never bring a barbecue grill indoors or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

For additional information and resources to help you learn more and stay safe in and around your home, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

Use a neoprene-treated glove. It is chemical resistant.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Small children see the world different than you. In order to fully childproof your home, you need to get down on a child’s level to see what they see, so that you can see the dangers and do what it takes to correct them. Some good general starting points:

• Post emergency numbers, including police, fire, ambulance, doctor’s number, emergency room and poison control in a central location, such as a refrigerator.
• All outlets should have cover plates and outlet covers. Leave appliances unplugged when you’re not using them.
• All bedrooms and hallways should have smoke detectors.
• All windows should have window stops that are easily removed by an adult (in case the window needs to be used as an exit in an emergency).
• All cords to window blinds should be out of reach or cut in half to prevent strangulation.
• All doors should have hook-and-eye latches installed in case you need to keep a child out of that room. Take off door locks on bathrooms and bedrooms to prevent children from accidentally locking themselves in the room.
• All cabinet and cupboard doors should also be latched.
• Keep all detergents, chemicals and drugs out of reach.
• Install lid locks on your toilets.
  Turn down your water heater to prevent scalding (120º F or less).
• Keep step stools in a latched closet.
• Contain your trash in a bin with a lockable lid.
• Keep houseplants out of reach.
• Use safety gates to contain children in the room with you. Place safety gates at the bottom and top of all staircases.
  Use bumpers on furniture corners.
• Secure your bookshelves, media shelves, curio cabinets and entertainment cabinets to the wall to prevent heavy pieces of furniture from topping over onto children.
• Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can collect in hazardous concentrations in areas like the basement. A radon detector in your basement will help keep your family safe.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

You should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level of your house. Place them in hallways near bedrooms. If there are no bedrooms on a particular floor, install one in or near the room that gets used most.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

There are two kinds of security systems. A perimeter security system protects a home by placing sensors on doors and windows that sound an alarm when the system is armed and someone tries to gain entry into the home. An area security system uses heat or motion detectors to sense someone’s presence once they’re inside. Many homeowners install both types of systems for maximum security.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

A trigger lock is a two-piece lock that fits over a gun’s trigger and trigger guard to prevent a gun from being fired. They’re available in versions with keys or combinations.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Yes, there are a variety of timers that simply plug in. There are corded and cordless options to choose from, and there are also timers dedicated to protect your home during vacations.

There are many other ways to keep your home safe from harm.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fire is the second-leading cause of accidental death in the home. So how can you protect your family from this hazard?

While most of us understand the value of smoke alarms, these should only be one part of your overall home fire prevention plan. There are many other ways to protect your family from fire.

Here is some advice on how to help your family stay safe:

• Have at least one smoke alarm on each floor. It's an inexpensive - and imperative - first line of defense against fire. Place smoke alarms outside bedrooms and keep them in working order by testing them monthly and replacing batteries once a year.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors. These inexpensive devices could help alert your family to toxic fumes. Place them near bedrooms alongside smoke detectors, and in the same rooms as gas-burning appliances like furnaces and water heaters.
• Guard against electrical fires. Inspect electrical cords regularly and discard if they are frayed. Never plug too many cords into a single socket, and keep the cords away from sources of heat and water.
• Use appliances with care. Appliances can overheat, resulting in flames and smoke. Keep cords and wires out from under rugs, hanging over nails or in the middle of a high traffic area. An unusual smell emitting from an appliance is a warning sign, so replace old or broken parts immediately.
• Use portable heaters wisely. Every year you read news stories during the winter about fires caused by portable heaters. You must be extremely careful when using these devices. Keep heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, bed linens, clothing and any other combustible items.
• Safety-proof your fireplace. Use a heavy, well-built screen to prevent rolling logs and make sure that the screen is large enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to keep flying sparks and hot embers inside. Make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Retrofit security bars on windows. While security bars are a smart way to keep intruders out, they can also impede escape in the event of a fire. Retrofit the bars with quick release devices.
• Have a fire escape plan. Your final step should be an evacuation plan. The plan should include at least two ways out of every room in your home. Make sure to share it with every household member and practice it occasionally.

Remember, your home should be the place where your family feels most safe, so take the steps necessary to give them the added reassurance.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

Lawn mowing and landscaping top the list of household chores when it comes to preparing for backyard parties and barbecues. The simple act of yard work can be riddled with opportunities for injuries if you’re not careful. The Home Safety Council recommends the following tips to make sure your backyard doesn’t become an injury trap:

• Wear protective goggles and ear protection while using outdoor machinery to prevent sight and hearing-loss injuries.
• Keep all garden tools out of children’s reach and store them with tines, blades or spikes pointing downward.
• Fuel mowers outside and only when the motor is completely cool. If necessary, store small quantities of gasoline outside the home in a detached garage or shed, tightly sealed in an approved safety container and out of the sight and reach of children.
• Start the mower outdoors to avoid raising carbon monoxide levels inside the home or garage.
• Store pesticides in their original containers and out of the reach of children, and only mix and store pesticides in containers not used for eating or drinking.
• Clear sidewalks and pathways of any toys and clutter to avoid falls.
• Make sure all play areas are equipped with proper shock-absorbing materials, such as 9 inches of wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber.*

*Consumer Product Safety Commission

For additional information and resources to help you learn more and stay safe in and around your home, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the air inside our homes may be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. What's surprising is that this statistic does not exclude newer homes, which can actually test higher than older residences in terms of poor indoor air quality.

In a rush to conserve energy in the 1970s, builders, architects and designers began building tighter homes with energy efficient windows and doors and thicker insulation in an effort to seal out potential drafts. While we succeeded in lowering the cost of energy bills, we ended up adding to the problem of trapping volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - harmful fumes caused by leftover building products, furniture, animal dander, and indoor mildew and mold - inside our homes.

Today, Americans spend millions of dollars each year on indoor air filtration systems. We purchase everything from small, tabletop models to whole-house units for our homes. And yet, even with all the information available on the market, there is major debate on which ones truly work the best.

Below are five steps that you can take to improve your home's indoor air quality. By following these steps and coupling them with the right indoor air purifying unit, you'll breathe a lot easier in your own home.

Step One -- Test your home for possible contaminants.

Today, there are a number of in-home test kits available to assess everything from lead on walls and in your drinking water, to asbestos and radon gas. And utilizing these inexpensive kits can give you the peace of mind of knowing that you and your family are safe.

Step Two -- If you have a forced air heating system, have the air ducts cleaned regularly and upgrade to better furnace air filters.

Homeowners often ask, "Is cleaning my air ducts worth it?" The answer is yes. Even if your home is new, you may have more internal construction debris and dust than a home that is 10 to 15 years old. When getting your air ducts cleaned, make sure the contractor is a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (www.nadca.com), and uses not only high velocity air, but a whip that is fed through the ductwork to loosen any debris stuck to the walls of the sheet-metal. The average cost to clean ductwork in your home is about $300 to $500, but the results are well worth the expense.

In conjunction, for many of us, the furnace filter is a spun glass filter that costs less than a dollar. While this filter will protect the blower motor, it will do next to nothing when it comes to improving your indoor air quality. Upgrade to a pleated filter that captures smaller particles so small that even the naked eye cannot see. The key is to change them regularly - every couple of months should do - to prevent to the restriction of airflow through your heating system.

Step Three -- Keep your home as clean as possible.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), an estimated 57 million Americans suffer from severe allergies and asthma and keeping your home as clean as possible can dramatically improve the air you breathe. Dusting window treatments, around window and door trim and those out-of-reach areas can make a huge impact. Use a bagless vacuum cleaner that utilizes a HEPA filter to maximize your cleaning power and avoid the plume of dust that occurs when you'd otherwise change the bag.

Step Four -- Consider purchasing an indoor air purifier.

Because they can vary in performance, size and cost, it's important that you find the right purifier to fit your needs. There are a number of Web sites you can turn to for help. One of the industry standards is put forth by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' (AHAM) Air Cleaner Council (www.aham.org). There, testing helps set certain parameters so that all purification units are measured against the same criteria. If you're thinking of a particular model and in search of its product rating guide, visit www.cadr.org for the unit's "clean air delivery rate." In turn, take advantage of the 30-day free trial offer many manufacturers offer. By the end of 30 days, you'll know if you are breathing easier and if the unit is worth the investment.

HEPA filtration (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is one of the most common approaches to cleaning the air. A good quality HEPA filtering system can be up to 99.97 percent efficient at filtering particulates that are 0.3 microns from the air. This filtering system has been widely used and accepted by organizations promoting indoor air quality standards to clean the indoor air of smoke, dust, pollen, mold spores and pet dander.

Portable units, when sized correctly, can do a good job of cleaning the air in a particular room. But the key is to make sure that unit is sized for the square footage of that room. In addition, the faster the fan runs, the more air is exchanged through the unit. While this does increase the noise, the units will work much better.

HEPA room purifiers can range in price from $30 to $300. These units use a modular filter system which makes finding and installing the filters much easier.

Step Five -- Protect your family by installing a carbon monoxide detector.

It used to be that smoke detectors were enough to protect your family. However, in recent years, homeowners across America have been taking safety a step further by installing carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.

When installing a carbon monoxide detector, remember that the placement of that detector is key. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends it be located near the sleeping area, where it can wake you if you are asleep; however, additional detectors on every level and in every bedroom of a home provides extra protection.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware