Sure, you've got a fire extinguisher at home, but if you ever had a fire, would you know what to do with it?

Like any tool, reading the directions can only get you so far.  If you've never "pulled the pin" and discharged a fire extinguisher before, fighting an actual fire can be a frightening intiation.

For non-firefighters, there's an alternative. It's an aerosol spray from the First Alert company called the Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray and it's billed as an intuitive fire safety product.

According to a First Alert product fact sheet, aside from its ease-of-use, the Tundra product boasts several advantages over traditional fire extinguishers:

1. Tundra sprays for 32 seconds -- double a traditional fire extinguisher
2. Tundra spray covers 3 times more surface area than a traditional extinguisher
3. Tundra cleans up with a damp sponge

The Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray is recommended for cooking fires, electrical fires and household fires involving wood, paper and fabrics.  You can buy it at most hardware stores or for cheap at Amazon.com.

In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security launched Ready.gov, a government website aimed at family, business and community disaster readiness.

Now, when the Ready.gov website talks about disaster readiness, it's referring to more than just physical attacks on the county -- it's talking about natural disasters, too.  This includes hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and floods and these weather-related events impact the different parts of country each year.

The Ready.gov website is loaded with tips, notes and checklists, including the 3-minute "It Takes Just Three Steps To Get Ready For An Emergency" video featured above. 

If you've never watched it, take the time to watch it today.  Then, test your home's disaster readiness, take this 10-question quiz.  There's no "passing grade", per se, but with your own answers, you'll see where there's room for improvement.

Disasters can't be predicted and most of us will face them at least once in our lives.  When disaster strikes, therefore, make sure you prepared for it in advance.  Protecting your household is a matter of just 3 simple steps.

For spot heating, many homeowners turn to portable electric space heaters; it's often more efficient to plug one in than to raise the household thermostat by a degree or two.

But using a space heater isn't as safe as it is simple.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2005, space heaters were responsible for:

• 32% of home heating-related fires
• 57% of home heating-related property damage
• 73% of home heating-related civilian deaths

Space heaters cause a disproportionate amount of damage versus central heating systems and fireplaces.  Therefore, it's important to practice safety and care when using space heaters.

Some basic space heater safety tips include:

• Don't place anything that can burn within three feet away of the space heater.
• Make sure that your space heater has the label of a recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory.
• Never use an extension cord on a space heater.
• Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

And, of course, be sure to follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

Source
Heating Safety Tips
National Fire Protection Agency