Safety Tips

• Increase the frequency of property inspections by your maintenance staff.
• During each inspection, make sure to check all electrical outlets for possible overloading in the living areas, bedrooms, porches, and balconies.
• Check for any extension cords being used for portable heaters or any appliance that is a heavy user of electrical current.
• Do not use extension cords on a permanent basis.
• Do not overload wall outlets with too many appliances.
• Check for taped or frayed extension cords being used to power portable appliances, Christmas trees, or special decorations.
• During the holiday season, encourage residents to tum off Christmas tree lights while asleep.
• Inform all residents to report any defective electrical switches, plug-ins, or wiring to the office.

Are you ready? Are you completing regular property inspections? Is your property protected? Are your residents educated on fire safety?  All of these are essential in fire prevention and protection of your property.  Most people believe fires can only happen to other people - not to me and not in my home  Yet, over 80 percent of fire deaths occur in the home, most claiming the lives of the young, the elderly and the disadvantaged. You can make a difference¦

In addition to cooking and careless smoking kids playing with matches or lighters is one of the main causes of fires in public housing. Misuse of extension cords, portable heaters and cooking appliances, as well as improper storage of flammable or combustible materials are all actual and potential causes of fires in the home.  We can talk about these another day, but for now lets talk about how you can prevent fires from cooking as well as from kids playing with matches.