Parents, do you leave your children at home with no adult supervision? Faster than you can snap your fingers, an accident can happen that involves your child. Food cooking on an unattended stove has been the source of many blazes. Scalds are the second leading cause of burn deaths of children. Also, the soaring cost of petroleum fuel that began a decade ago has introduced wood-burning heating stoves to a generation that is unfamiliar with their unique characteristics and maintenance needs. The result​—death and injury by fire to hundreds.

The most deadly cause of home fires is tobacco smoking. Falling asleep with a lighted cigarette results in thousands of deaths by fire each year. Not only is the smoker a victim but family and neighbors suffer too. When a cigar or a cigarette ignites furniture, flames can quickly spread throughout the rest of the house and jump to neighboring buildings.

[Box on pages 6, 7]

Safety Checklist​—Fires

• Are smoke or heat detectors properly placed (at least one per floor) and maintained?

• Does everyone in the family, particularly the children, the elderly, and the handicapped, have flame-resistant sleepwear?

• Are matches and flammable liquids far beyond the reach of children?

• Are pot handles turned away from edge of stove but not over burners?

• Is there an adequate fire extinguisher in the kitchen?

• Are bedroom doors shut when you are asleep, so as to delay fire and smoke from entering?

• Are all appliances unplugged when not in use, and when in use, is there sufficient air space around them to prevent the igniting of nearby materials?

• Are all flammable rags stored in sealed metal cans?

• Are electrical cords removed from under rugs or over radiators? Are frayed cords repaired or replaced?

• Is all furniture, as well as draperies, at least three feet (1m) from fireplace or wood stove?

• Is the ironing-board cover of nonflammable material?

• Are flammable materials kept away from light bulbs in attic or closet?

• Is basement or attic off limits as storage bin for old newspapers and flammable odds and ends?

• Are chimneys and flues cleaned and inspected at least once a year?