Fire is the greatest threat to your family and your home. Teaching your children fire safety is as important as teaching them to escape from a real fire. Invest on smoke detectors and install them in the kitchen, laundry area, hallways and all bedrooms. Test them always and replace their batteries every 6 months.

Have fire extinguishers ready in the kitchen, laundry area and exit ways. Have a fire escape plan ready and have a fire drill regularly so every one in the family will know precisely what to do when a fire breaks out. This plan should include two alternative plans of getting out.

Is your family ready in case a fire breaks out in your home? Post your fire safety comments and suggestions here.

Most weekend do-it-yourselfers get hurt and spend more on medical expenses than what they intend to save by working by themselves. They seem to forget that safety and common sense go hand-in-hand when you do things yourself. While still nursing a monster hangover, they would grab a power tool and work on a pending home project, ignoring the machinery’s capacity to injure.

Fatigue is also a cause of accidents at home. If you plan to work on electricity at home, remember that safety risks will involve climbing and dealing with electrical current. The point is never to work when you’re tired or taking any medication. Have a good day’s rest and tackle your work when both your mind and your body can.

As the weather gets colder, rats and mice will break into your home to seek food and shelter. To discourage these disease-carrying pests from invading your domain, first check for signs of their presence inside and outside your house. These can include feces, gnaw marks on wood and food items, or skittering noises behind walls. Patch cracks and possible entries with cement or metal sheets.

Never leave food items lying around in the kitchen. Keep them in metal or plastic containers. Put a tight lid on your trash containers. Clean out possible nesting sites like discarded boxes or woodpile. Throw out old newspapers, magazines or wood shavings. Cut tree limbs near windows and gutters. Trim your plants and bushes to eliminate rodent nesting places.

Microscopic mites, allergens and unsafe smoke from vehicles can be carried by dirty, polluted air and can cause ailments such as bronchitis, asthma and nose, eyes, or skin irritation. An air purifier virtually eliminates all the germs and impurities in the air we breathe and provides a better quality of life.

Air purifiers use various air filtration systems such as charcoal, mechanical or electronic filters. Purchase the ones that use HEPA or High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance as these are the best air cleaners in the market with almost 100% filtration rate. They can filter particles as minute as 0.3 microns.

The only objectionable thing about this device is its price. If your family’s good health is your chief concern and money is no option, then get an air purifier and enjoy the benefits of pure, clean air.

There is so much going on today for home security than just than just having window bars or deadbolt locks. You now have the choice to install a closed-circuit television and keep an eye on your home even when you’re away just by using your mobile phone. As if that wasn’t enough, you can even throw in motion sensors to detect movement inside and outside your house.

The good news is security cameras are getting to be more and more affordable while they come up with smarter features, better designs and simple solutions straight out of the box.

For those with limited budgets or are technologically challenged, there are simple yet effective measures such as installing fake cameras on your patio or backyard to deter potential break-ins.

You may not be aware of this or have totally overlooked it, but your home harbors a lot of items that can cause accidental poisoning in children. Toddlers, usually at the age of 1 to 4, are naturally curious and will put anything in their mouth to satisfy that curiosity. They can look under the sink and be exposed to a plethora of potentially deadly poisons such as detergents, Drano, lye, or even mild soaps.

The old byword of keeping medicine and harmful chemicals out of children’s reach still apply. Keep tranquilizers, aspirins and other medication locked in the medicine cabinet. Move weed killers, paint removers and insecticides from your garage floor to higher shelves.

If a poison emergency occurs, call 911 or 1-800-222-1222 toll-free to connect you to a poison control center in your state.

The Internet is a valuable source of information for school-aged kids but it is also rife with nudity, identity thieves and child molesters. It is our responsibility to teach our children about online dangers and protect them from being exposed to social deviants and other form of psychological violence online.

Your children may create a breach in your security by innocently volunteering personal information about your home, your job, their school or even your credit card number to smooth-talking con men during a chat session. Pedophiles, posing as children of like age, may set up an appointment to meet your child personally.

Be aware of what your children are doing online and who they are chatting with on social networks. Installing Net Nanny or similar protection software will prevent your kids from accessing adult sites.

Just because a particular breed of dog tickles our fancy doesn’t mean we need to take it home with us without raising much consideration. Many home owners raise wrong dogs for the wrong reason. Dachshunds and shih-tzus can make quite a raucous bark but won’t be effective as guard or attack dogs.

Why would you want to own a canine in the first place? If it’s home protection you’re after, then a pit bull or a Doberman pinscher will fit the bill nicely. Just have it trained to attack intruders and not your friends or immediate family members. If you live in a small apartment, you may want to consider a smaller breed such as a beagle. Gentle sporting dogs like retrievers and hounds are good company if you prefer country living.

Hundreds of Americans die of electrocution every year and thousands more are hurt from fires caused by faulty electrical circuits. You can prevent electric shocks, burn injuries and fires through constant safety awareness efforts.

Know the locations of main electrical lines inside and outside your home. Basic home equipments such as gardening tools and ladders coming into contact with power lines are one of the leading causes of electrocution.

Be aware of telltale signs of impending electrical hazards:

• Overloaded circuits

• Intermittently flashing lights

• Discolored or burnt-out light switches and electrical outlets

These signs indicate a need for electrical checks and upgrades. Ignoring these potential hazards can put lives and properties at risk. Are you aware of possible electrical risks in your home? Your comments are most welcome here.

Fireplaces give off a mixed bag of life-threatening substances that include carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. With today’s insulation efficiency and advanced improvements used in the exterior of modern houses, today’s homes are virtually airtight. If you install a vent-free gas fireplace inside, where do you think the toxic emissions go? These gasses are released right inside your home.

Most U.S. states forbid the use of vent-free gas fireplace and are banned in Canada. While they may be promoted as being safe as other fireplaces and easier to install, it is generally safer to consider using a direct vent fireplace. It draws in air for combustion from the outdoors through a pipe and brings out combustion by-products through an exhaust pipe, providing both energy efficiency and safety.