DANGER #1: Carbon monoxide You can’t see it, and you can’t smell it, but carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S. It’s produced by improperly working appliances, fireplaces, and it can even seep into the house from a running car in the garage. SOLUTION #1: Carbon monoxide alarms The only way to detect carbon monoxide? With an alarm. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. Check with your fire department to see what local and state laws require in terms of placement. And be sure to have your appliances checked regularly. * * * DANGER #2: Kitchen gadgets and equipment Cooking equipment is, and has long been, the leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The most common sources: stovetops, ovens, rotisseries, microwaves, portable cooking units, and barbecue or hibachi grills. SOLUTION #2: Fire extinguishers Unattended cooking is the main reason behind home fires, so start by staying in the kitchen when you’re using the stovetop, checking food frequently when it’s in the oven, and keeping the range clear of anything that can catch fire. But even for those who consider themselves Top Chef contenders, I recommend keeping a fire extinguisher or extinguishing spray on hand to prevent a small kitchen fire from growing out of control. * * * DANGER #3: Foundation cracks If you’re like many homeowners, you’re probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). This odorless, radioactive gas can move up from the soil and enter the home through cracks in the foundation. Even if you don’t have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints. SOLUTION #3: Radon test kits You can’t see or smell radon, but you can easily test for it with an at-home kit. Rest assured, though, even if you come up with an elevated result, radon is fixable: the EPA says some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels by up to 99 percent. * * * DANGER #4: Rapid fires It’s little known how fast home fires can spread. From the time a smoke alarm sounds, your family can have as little as two minutes to escape safely before the fire spreads throughout your home, according to the National Fire Protection Association. SOLUTION #4: Home escape plan Your ability to escape from a home fire depends on advance warning from a smoke alarm but, also, from advance planning with an escape plan. Shockingly, though, only 29 percent of families have ever practiced their fire escape plan, according to one of our recent surveys. I recommend practicing your plan regularly—at least twice a year—so that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. You might even consider holding a drill at night * * * DANGER #5: Home theft While not exactly a “hidden” danger, home theft is something that’s frequently overlooked. You might think it’ll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds in the United States, according to the FBI. SOLUTION #5: Residential safes There are basic ways to deter burglars from getting inside your home: install solid core entry doors with sturdy deadbolt locks; properly light entries; install metal grates over basement windows; and trim bushes so there are fewer places to hide. But you’ll enjoy extra piece of mind by storing your most valuable possessions in a safe (consider one that’s both waterproof and fireproof to keep items safe from the elements too). Have you uncovered any other home safety dangers? Share your tips below?

Guest blogger Debbie Hanson is director of external affairs for First Alert, a trusted brand in home safety products.

Though it is great fun to celebrate, you also need to take the proper safety precautions to prevent fires and injuries. When you’re decorating your home this holiday season, be sure to keep a watchful eye on all the potential hazards that come along with extra decorations. Candles Whether you use them on a menorah or just for festive lighting around the house, candles can be a bright ornament, but also a serious fire hazard if not used safely. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures, 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries and $539 million in estimated direct property damage each year. To keep your home safe, never leave burning candles unattended, and always place them out of reach of children. Make it a part of your routine to check that all candles are extinguished before you go to bed each night. Also, as an added precaution, have a fire extinguisher readily available in the home. Christmas Trees This holiday staple also can be a serious fire hazard. According to the USFA, Christmas trees account for 200 fires each year, resulting in six deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage. To avoid this, make sure you place your tree on a sturdy stand, keep the tree away from any heating sources and assign a family member to water the tree each day so that it doesn’t dry out. Again, it also is important to have a fire extinguisher and smoke alarm in case a fire does spark. Lights Holiday lights also add festive cheer inside and outside the home. But you need to be very careful when adorning your home with lights, especially if they are older, the wrong type, or damaged, as this can cause an electrical problem. Every year more than 50,000 home fires are caused by electrical problems, according to the Home Safety Council. Before use, read the package label to be sure you are using the appropriate indoor or outdoor lights that have been tested and approved by an independent testing laboratory. If you have an older home, I think it’s a smart idea to have an electrician perform a professional check-up before loading up your outlets. The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, so make sure you are taking the proper safety precautions to keep what matters most – your family and friends – safe from fire hazards this season. Debbie Hanson is a safety expert with First Alert.

Most CO poisonings in the U.S. occur during the winter months. Alarmingly, an annual average of 56 deaths and 2,157 non-fatal exposures occur each December followed by an average of 69 deaths and 2,511 non-fatal exposures in January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also notes that deaths from unintentional vehicle-related carbon monoxide poisonings are higher in winter months and in states with colder temperatures. These unfortunate deaths and poisonings can be reduced if you are aware of the proper safety precautions. Here’s what I tell my family and friends to do to stay safe when heating up every room of their homes this winter.

Kitchen

It’s the season of generous, home-cooked meals with family and friends, but stoves can be a potential danger if not properly used and maintained. Foil on the bottom of a gas oven or a malfunctioning range can lead to a serious carbon monoxide problem in your kitchen.

Living Room

Cozying around the fire keeps you warm, but if not professionally cleaned at the beginning of every winter season, soot and debris build-up in your chimney could lead to CO exposure.

Basement

Fuel-burning space heaters also are commonly used in the winter to provide a little extra heat to colder areas of the home, like basements or renovated garages. But these devices can pose a threat of CO poisoning if the vent becomes loose or detached. Before you turn on your space heater, check to see that all parts are intact and secure.

Garage

Another fairly common practice to try to stay warm on a cold day is to heat your car before driving somewhere. Avoid warming up your car in the garage. Exhaust from automobiles can be a source of CO and if you heat your car in an attached garage, there is great potential for the gas to leak into the house. Knowing how CO can enter your home is an important first step in winter safety. CO is colorless and odorless, making it impossible for humans to detect. Alarms should be installed on every floor of the home, including the basement, and near every sleeping area to ensure best possible detection. Stay safe this season!

Guest blogger Debbie Hanson is the Director of External Affairs for First Alert, a trusted brand in home safety products.

October is a month full of fire prevention activities, including Fire Prevention Week, to help make sure your family and your home are properly protected in case of a house fire. This month, I want to share a few tips regarding fire safety at home.

Alarming Your Home

Like many household products, smoke alarms have an expiration date and need to be replaced. So how long is too long to keep your smoke alarm? We say a typical, well-maintained smoke alarm provides your home with 10 years (or 87,000 hours) of service. If the alarms in your home have exceeded this timeframe, or if you can’t recall when you installed your smoke alarms, replace them immediately! Besides replacement, think about the alarm coverage in your home. Just one working smoke alarm may not be enough to protect your family from disaster. The NFPA recommends that homes install smoke alarms on every level of the home and in the main corridor outside sleeping areas.

Testing, 1-2-3

Once the smoke alarms are installed, many homeowners forget to take the next step – maintaining their alarms. You should replace the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year. I recommend doing this at the same time every year. The way I remember is to check on Daylight Saving Time when I turn my clocks back or forward. More often than replacing alarms or batteries, test the smoke alarms to make sure they are in working condition by holding down the alarm’s test button. Do this once a month.

Routing an Escape

Another good measure to help ensure your safety during a fire is to develop an escape plan. Create multiple escape routes so that if one exit is blocked, your family can easily locate another in a time of emergency. Be sure to share this plan with the whole family and even practice the plan together. It’s also a smart idea to wake your children up out of their beds when practicing, so that they know what to do if a smoke alarm sounds in the middle of the night. All escape plans should ultimately route family members to an agreed upon location a safe distance from the home, where you can call emergency services. Plans also should include the items necessary to safely exit the home, such as an escape ladder for a second or third floor room. Interlinked alarms also can help aid your family’s escape plan. These types of alarms “talk” to each other so that when the alarm sounds, all alarms, no matter where you are, tell you the location of the fire. Over the years, our smoke alarms have helped save many lives, but this is only possible if you do your part, too. Making sure you and your family are prepared for a house fire can help save your life and your home.

Debbie Hanson is the Director of External Affairs for First Alert, a trusted brand in home safety products.