October is National Fire Safety Month and we wanted to provide some tips on how to keep you and your family safe.
The history of National Fire Prevention Month has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. During the 27 hour blaze, over 4 square miles of the city were destroyed and left nearly 100,000 people homeless.
Given the dry conditions of Southern California and the recent heat spell, it is even more imperative that we take extra steps to prevent fires.
~ Be sure your smoke detectors are working. Never remove the batteries!
~ Clean out your dryer lint trap after each use.
~ Plan an escape route and a meeting place for your family.
~ Create an Emergency Kit for your household. You can pick up brochures from FEMA at the Leasing Office to help get you started.
~ Keep flammable items like bedding, clothes and curtains at least three feet away from heat sources.
~ Never smoke in bed.
~ Do not store anything flammable or combustible near your water heater. You should maintain at least two feet of clear space around your water heater at all times.
~ Teach kids that matches, lighters and candles are tools, not toys.
~ Do not throw lit cigarettes out of your car or apartment windows. Brush on the side of the road is extremely dry and can easily spark into a full-blown fire.
~ Remember: Get out and Stay Out!
For residents with pets, you absolutely need to visit this website. It has some tips for caring for your pets during and after an emegerncy. The best part, however, is that it lets you create a personalized window decal to notify fire fighters of your pet's identity. Be sure to check it out!
We can never be too careful when it comes to planning for an emergency. Being prepared is the first step to being able to handle the unexpected. From all of us here at Alara Links at Westridge, we hope our residents take the time to inspect your apartment homes for any fire dangers and take those first steps to fire prevention.
