PELLA, Iowa, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Keeping a home safe and protecting loved ones is an expectation many Americans take for granted. Too often worn out windows and doors get overlooked in the quest to make more glamorous updates to a home. For the safety of your loved ones, make sure all windows and doors open easily and close completely before the winter months set in.
Safe windows are also critical to a safe escape in the event of fire. Less than 25 percent of U.S. families have developed and practiced a plan for exiting the home safely in case of a fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Adults practice fire drills at work, and children practice them at school, but the reality is that most deadly and frequent fires occur in the home.
“Take a few minutes now to reduce potential fire hazards and plan and practice a home fire safety escape route to help you protect what’s most important — your loved ones,” said Kathy Krafka Harkema, Pella Corporation’s fire safety educator.
Many home fires occur as temperatures drop and families spend more time indoors, lighting candles and fires, and using heating, cooking and other appliances. Most home cooking fires occur when ovens, stoves or other appliances are left unattended in use. For greater safety, never leave appliances unattended when cooking.
Begin a home fire safety drill by drawing a floor plan of each level of your home. Next, designate two exits from every room in your home — a door and a window. Make sure doors and windows open quickly and easily to help ensure a quick exit; if not, consider replacing them for safety’s sake. When replacing windows and doors, look for the ENERGY STAR(R) designating the most energy-efficient options for your home.
In the event of a fire, train your family to gather in a designated meeting place safely outside your home. More home fire safety tips from Pella’s Close the door on fire! campaign are available at http://www.pella.com/about/fire.asp.
For more information on how you can improve the safety of your home, call your local Pella(R) Window & Door representative at 888-84-PELLA or log on to http://www.Pella.com.
SOURCE Pella Windows & Doors
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