Travelers and nfpa promote home fire safety for fire prevention week
Hartford, conn.--(business wire)--in recognition of the national fire protection association’s (nfpa) annual public awareness campaign, fire prevention week (oct. 9–15), travelers and the nfpa today urged consumers to be vigilant about common causes of home fires during the fall and winter seasons, a time when most fires occur. according to travelers, customers are frequently impacted by home fires in december and january. many home fires are caused by electrical issues, appliance failures and improper use of appliances. the nfpa and travelers are encouraging consumers to test their fire safety knowledge through a quiz in recognition of fire prevention week. this year’s theme, “protect your family from fire,” focuses on educating families about what causes home fires, how to prevent them and what to do in an emergency. “the fire prevention week quiz reinforces the need to continuously remind residents about ways to prevent home fires, injuries and loss of life and property,” said patrick gee, senior vice president, claim for travelers. “maintaining a safe environment, taking the right precautions and having a rehearsed escape plan are all essential for helping to keep your family safe and preventing property damage.” the fire prevention week quiz, which began in june and extends through october, helps consumers improve their fire safety knowledge, make more informed decisions about fire prevention and understand how to best protect their families. “the goal of the quiz is to help dispel some common household myths when it comes to fire prevention, how fires can start in the home and when,” said lorraine carli, nfpa’s vice president of communications. “by educating families about the common causes of home fires and simple safety tips they can use, we encourage people to play an active role in preventing fire and preparing for it.” travelers has assembled the following safety tips to help homeowners address common causes of fires in their residence: 1. electrical safety electrical cords should be matched to the use and not substituted for additional outlets. check the electrical cords throughout your home for signs of fraying, and replace all frayed wires. do not pinch or cover electrical cords with items such as rugs. 2. appliance safety never leave your pots or pans unattended on your stove and keep a fire extinguisher readily available. if a grease fire erupts, turn off the heat source. don’t throw water on the fire because it may cause the fire to spread. if you’re installing your own dryer vent, follow the directions in the manual, or consider hiring a professional to do the installation. clean out the lint filter after each load and clean out the dryer vent regularly. 3. alternative heating source safety don’t place a space heater near furniture, curtains or other objects that could easily catch fire. if you plan to install an alternative heating system, such as a wood or pellet stove, follow the instructions, or consider hiring a professional to do the installation. 4. furnace, boiler and chimney safety have your furnace and boiler inspected annually by a licensed professional. have your chimney inspected annually by a csia-certified chimney sweep. have a professional clean and repair the chimney as needed, especially before the cold months, when you’ll be using it frequently. use seasoned wood only. never burn green or damp wood. “home fires can be tragic events where people can get hurt and irreplaceable memories can be lost,” added gee of travelers. “with that in mind, travelers encourages homeowners to consult with their insurance agents to make sure they have both proper insurance coverage levels and are taking the necessary steps to exercise safety.” the fire prevention week quiz will continue to run through the month of october. to test your own knowledge, take the 2011 fire prevention week quiz and visit travelers’ fire safety game. about travelersthe travelers companies, inc. (nyse: trv) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. the company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers. a component of the dow jones industrial average, travelers has more than 30,000 employees and operations in the u.s., canada, u.k. and ireland. the company generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2010. for more information, visit www.travelers.com.
