Fires are Like Living Beings...

Fires are like living beings...they are always trying to grow and move. They are always starving for food and oxygen. So, make sure that you always put some extra thought into keeping an eye on your fire in your fireplace.

Don't start a fire and then decide to leave your house, because you may come back and no longer have a home! A fireplace screen will definitely add protection to your home, but the ultimate protection is making sure you keep an eye on your roaring fire!

Safely Buidling a Fire

When starting a fire in your fireplace you want to make sure that you keep fireplace safety a top priority.

1. Make sure you have a fireplace screen to protect your floors, carpets and loved ones from flying embers.

2. Keep the surface in front of your hearth clean and cleared of all items. You want to safely protect your home from any flying embers.

Time to Change the Batteries

Let Daylight Savings help us think of fire safety.

Did you know that you should not only have a smoke detector in your home, but you should also be CHANGING THE BATTERY EVERY 6 MONTHS???

Daylight Savings occurs every 6 months, which I am going to use to remind me that it is time to change my smoke detector's 9v battery. It is a great reminder to help make sure that my home is protected.

When the Fall weather starts to get cooler, I love to sit behind a roaring fire in my fireplace. Using daylight savings to check that the 9v battery in my smoke detector is new and working, helps me to know that I am taking at least one more step to safely protect my family Please check your battery!

Is Your Smoke Detector in a Dead Zone?

Is Your Smoke Detector in a Dead Zone?

Did you know that your smoke detector needs to be mounted AT LEAST 12 inches from where your ceiling and wall meet?

You may be wondering WHY???

This is known as the DEAD ZONE!

A dead zone is an area where smoke may NOT accumulate very rapidly. This means that if there was a fire in your home, your smoke detector may not be able to detect the smoke and protect you & your family in time!

Since fireplace season is approaching, please be sure to check your smoke detector. Make sure that it is positioned at least 12 inches from where the ceiling and wall meet! A simple adjustment can make a life altering impact!

Do You Want to Live?

Do You Want to Live???

Then make sure you check your smoke detector!

I hope I got your attention, because I need you to understand the importance of a smoke detector. So many people take smoke detectors for granted.

According to the American Red Cross, one of the most important points to bring up when discussing fire safety is smoke detectors. They save lives. “Make sure you have one on every level of your home, make sure you check them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year…”

Did you know that home fires are the most common type of disaster, and the most frequent. On average, the Red Cross responds to one every 13-15 hours.

Now those statistics are troubling, especially because we could possibly avoid a house fire disaster by simply changing the batteries in our smoke detectors or if you are guilty...simply hanging a smoke detector in your home.

So, make a promise to start fresh and make your smoke detector a priority today!

Child Safety with Glass Fireplace Doors...YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Child Safety with GLASS FIREPLACE DOORS

When it comes to children and a fireplace in your home...SAFETY needs to be on the top of your

PRIORITY list!

Many homes today have a gas flame fireplace. In the early years, gas fireplace flames were protected by some sort of metal screen. More recently, these fireplaces have been enclosed by glass doors.

Fireplaces with glass doors are becoming a source of serious burn injuries to infants and small children.

In a recently published study by Desiree Jimenez and Angela Montgomery of The Children’s Hospital in Denver, it was reported that 82 children were diagnoised with moderate to severe hand burn injuries caused by fireplace glass doors. Five of these kids required skin grafting.

Typical hand burns range from a partial thickness to full thickness in depth. The treatment of hand burn injuries to children is painful and time intensive. Permanent disability often results from contractures leading to a loss in the functional range of hand movement.

Testing shows that the glass doors on a fireplace can heat to 400° in six minutes and take 45 minutes to completely cool. Most of the burn victims are less than two years old and just learning to walk. They are unsure on their feet and some serious injuries result from falling against the red hot glass.

Toddlers are so curious, especially about fire and are drawn to the doors enclosing the object of their curiosity. Their “touchy feely” instincts lead them to place their little hands on the hot glass.

Parents should consider replacing a glass door fireplace with doors made out of tempered glass. Tempered glass doors do not store heat as efficiently and are much safer for children.

If you choose not to replace the dangerous fireplace, then PLEASE wait until the kids have gone to bed before turning the fireplace on. Also, put a full protective fireplace screen around the fireplace in order to prevent children from being able to reach the glass doors.

Just use your head when it comes to your children and your fireplace...remember SAFETY COMES FIRST!

Sizing Up The Fireplace

I was freezing this morning with the crisp air filling up the rooms, which means it is just about that time. Cozy fireplace time! Now that my two are two I think it is time to fancy up the fireplace. This year I think I am going to get a fireplace screen that adds some class to our family room. I didn't realize two years ago that there was a way to safely pick out the right fireplace screen.

Well, guess what there is...

1. Confirm it is the correct size for your fireplace.


2. When measuring your fireplace, add approximately 10-12 inches to the actual width of your fireplace opening for a folding fireplace screen. This will allow for enough fold in the fireplace screen and will prevent it from tipping over.
   
3. Folding fireplace screens should be at least 3-5 inches taller than the actual fireplace opening.


4. For flat fireplace screens, the desired overlap is about 1 inch. While these measurements are necessarily critical, THEY ARE RECOMMENDED.


5. Most of all, choose the style you like the best!

So, stay tuned as I plan for my fall family room facelift :)

Why Do I Need a Fireplace Screen?

Children bring so much joy but they also bring mommy worries. With twin boys in my home the first thing I was worried about was my fireplace. I have an open hearth and fireplace doors were really not an option 1) because my husband is just not that handy and 2) with the economy the way it is...we just didn't have the money for major construction! So, I needed to figure out a way to keep my boys safe and here is what I found...

A fireplace screen not only adds the perfect accent to your hearth, but also helps to protect your family, pets, carpets and/or floors from flying embers. Keeping an open flame with little ones crawling on the floor is just not an option. So, then the biggest decision is figuring out if you are looking for a fireplace screen that is either practical or decorative. The best part is that the possibilities are endless because they come in many unique designs and sizes. You can accent your hearth, while protecting your family at the same time. A fireplace screen is the way I choose to go and I am so grateful because it has brought peace of mind and a stunning focal point to my family room!