Information for Better Home Safety

Home Safety from the National AG Safety Database
Many of the 50 or so articles on this site are slanted toward farmers, but most articles apply equally as well to urban homes. Articles include such things as safe handling and preparation of ground meat and ground chicken, repairing leaky roof, assessing roof damage after a tornado, cleaning stovepipes and chimneys, creating fire safe zones around your home, electrical safety after a disaster, falls in the home, what to do in case of a fire, first aid kits, safe food storage and many, many more. Whether you live on a farm or in the middle of a big city, the information on this site could help save your life either before, during or after a natural disaster.

Home Safety Advice from Popular Mechanics
This article from Popular Mechanics provides important home safety information. For example, there are two basic types of smoke alarms: 120-volt hard-wired and 9-volt battery-operated. Each of these alarms has its advantages. Battery-operated models are easy to install and require no wiring, so they're very affordable. The batteries last about a year in standard alarms, but some premium models now come with lithium batteries that are good for 10 years. These are ideal for vaulted ceilings, stairwells and other hard-to-reach spots. In addition to smoke alarms, most homes—those with gas- or oil-fired appliances—should have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide (CO) is lethal in high concentrations. Early symptoms include dizziness, fatigue and nausea. CO is odorless, tasteless and colorless and it poses its greatest threat at night, when houses are closed up and people are asleep. Conduct a family fire drill in which everyone practices staying low, and develop more than one escape route. There are also several easy things you can do to prevent fires. Avoid letting the kids use candles. And make it a point to unplug -- not just turn off -- all resistance-heating small appliances when you're done with them. These include coffeepots, toasters, irons and blow dryers. On/Off switches can fail and these appliances have long histories as fire starters. And finally, clean your clothes dryer vent regularly, especially where it connects to the dryer, and clear the lint trap after each load. There are four basic types of deadbolts. The first is a combination lockset and deadbolt, which is essentially a beefed-up lockset. You get a stronger bolt without having to drill a second set of holes. These fit standard pre-drilled openings. The second type is the once-popular rim lock. It mounts on the surface of the door and edge of the jamb and is therefore easier to install.

Home Safety and Emergency Resources
This site offers home security and home emergency resources. Includes information about disasters, fire and emergencies, energy information, environmental information, home improvements, moving tips, product recalls and real estates and mortgages. Links connect to general links and organizations that deal with topics such as pesticide recalls, reporting fake home contractors, protecting children from lead poisoning and pesticides, and consumer energy information. Contact information for home security organizations is offered, to be kept handy for safety and emergency prevention.