Hidden Dangers in the Home?

[MattIE01]

My name is Matt Yule and I am a journalist researching a story regarding Hidden Dangers in and around the home. I am interested in any ideas you might have regarding safety issues in the home.(ex. oven cleaners, chemical storage, drain cleaner, extention cords, or car batteries.

If you have any great ideas on Safety Issues in or around the home, please call or email me at your earliest convenience.


Thanks for your help.


Matt Yule
1-(800)334-8466 x5524
[email protected]

[Diane E]

Try the Consumer Product Safety Website (I believe there's a link to it off this site).

Safe Kids is another good one.

[Scene25]

Hmm, where to start...

Hidden dangers for families and firefighters:

Gasoline, propane, cleaning products (all sorts), paint, furniture, poor carpentry (weak floors - weak roofs - weak walls etc), over loading of receptacles, ammunition not properly stored, and properly stored, gun powder, military collections (grenandes etc), oxygen cylinders, matches, lighters, batteries, etc.

Im sure there are plenty of people out there that will add to this list. This is just my 2 cents worth!

Take Care and Be Safe

[mongofire_99]

LIGHTWEIGHT TRUSS ROOF CONSTRUCTION!

Unknown/incompatable chemicals stored together.

Swimming pools without fences on their perimeter. More than once a fellow FF has fallen in dragging the hose around back in the middle of the night.

[PlattsFire1]

Storing gasoline containers next to the furnace in the garage. Smoking a cigarette while on O2.
Forgetting to replace batteries in smoke detectors. Or not even having them.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Here's a few I can think of...

The collection of chemicals under the kitchen sink.

The collection of chemicals in the garage.

Ten tons worth of useless junk stored around the furnace and water heater.

The style of decor known as "Classic American Clutter".

Small heat producing appliances kept plugged in.

Unattended cooking.

Careless smoking.

An Medusa like collection of extension cords plugged into a single outlet.

Windows blocked by furniture.

Windows painted shut.

Disabled smoke detectors.

Overflowing trash.

[MikeDeVuono]

Bars on windows...

Bathtubs, stoves, refrigerators, etc. on floors held up by wood trusses...

Heating your home with the stove...

The dining room light consists of a lightbulb dangling from an extension cord which is thumbtacked (through the extension cord) across the ceiling, down the wall, and plugged into another extension cord...

Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and all the extension cords, power strips, etc. related to Christmas...

Dirty chimneys...

All I can think of right now...

[Diane E]

Candles, matches and lighters.

Unattended food cooking (toaster, microwave, oven, stove etc.).

Cigarettes, cigars, ashtrays.

Pets that chew on electrical cords.

[Jmatteau]

I can't belive nobody has sai kerosene heaters! That is one of the biggest ones I can think of right now. That and keeping chlorine for your pool in an open bucket/container in a shed or other storage area that may have a leaky roof, or the potential for water to get in it.

[ALSfirefighter]

One thing that has been becoming more and more noticable is the amount of people on home medical equipment. Oxygen bottles, nebulizers, and even respirators. Other then that I have to agree with everyone else. But one danger that isn't hidden that needs to be mentioned, is lack of smoke detectors. You can basically get them for $7 at walmart/home depot, but you still see many homes without them.

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The above is my opinion only and doesn't reflect that of any dept/agency I work for, deal with, or am a member of.

[Diane E]

Actually, it's lack of WORKING smoke detectors. People who don't replace the batteries on a regular basis or people who remove them when they cook.....

[ 08-06-2001: Message edited by: Diane ]