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Electrical safety is the number 3 cause of home fires in Tasmania and many house fire start in the bedroom.
Electric Blankets
- Switch off before getting into bed.
- Switch off when not at home.
- Keep blanket flat and tied firmly to the bed.
- Never use if wet, soiled or creased.
- Do not use a hot water bottle and an electric blanket together.
- Do not place heavy objects on an electric blanket if switched on.
- Never fold if storing, as you may damage the wiring.
Replace your blanket if it shows any of the following danger signs
- Frayed or worn fabric or scorch marks.
- Exposed elements.
- Creasing or folding.
- Soiling/damp patches.
- Tie tapes damaged or missing.
- Damaged electrical cord, plug or controller.
As a final check, switch onto high for 10 - 15 minutes.
Run your hand over the blanket to check for hot spots which indicate that the elements may be damaged.
General
- Don’t smoke in bed.
- Light globes are hot.
- Fit bedside lamps with a compact fluorescent bulb.
- Don’t put material over the lamp.
Smoke alarms
Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom
- You should install a smoke alarm in each sleeping area (bedroom), hallway, living area and the top of stairways in a multi-level home. Smoke alarms should be supported by a home fire escape plan.
- Test alarms monthly.
- Vacuum dust from alarms every six months.
- Replace batteries once a year. Some alarms have 10 year lithium batteries that do not need replacing every year.
- Mains powered smoke alarms also have back-up batteries - check with the manufacturer if your model has batteries that need to be replaced regularly, or whether it has a re-chargeable battery.
- Young children are likely to sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm, so you must alert them to a fire and help them escape to safety.
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