This holiday time of year, more candles are being lit, extension cords are overplugged, stoves are on overtime and people are too busy to think about safety.  Skip is here to remind you to be extra careful with smoke and fire hazards!

GenTent

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Generators are trusted go-to winter storms hit or power goes out, but they produce hundreds of degrees of heat! 

During wet weather power outages, portable generator owners are left with conflicting messages on how to operate their portable generator safely: 

1. Carbon monoxide is deadly, so do NOT run your generator indoors or in your garage.
2. Water and electricity don’t mix, so do NOT run your generator in rain, or snow due to possible electrocution or generator damage. 

So it’s easy to see why they often end up using their generators in unsafe locations, exposing themselves to fire or carbon monoxide risks. 

GenTent defined the “Generator Tent” product category over a decade ago, which has proven to address many of the hazards posed from portable generator use during inclement weather, including addressing the behaviors and decisions that portable generator owners often make during wet weather. 

GenTent is the industry leading NFPA-Rated Generator Tent which self-attaches to the generator and keeps your generator running in any wet weather. GenTent is endorsed by the generator manufacturers, 

Independently tested, and rated for up to 70 MPH winds, 18” snow loads, and up to 12” of rain an hour. 

GenTent outfits over 3,000 different generators, including popular brands like Westinghouse and Champion. GenTent is available everywhere from Amazon, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, and GenTent.com 

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First Alert

• The vast majority of fire deaths – almost three in five – occur in homes without properly working smoke alarms, or no alarms at all. 
• According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for U.S. home fires.  
• Many people misunderstand the ins and outs of home fire safety. 
• Smoke and CO alarms are crucial for home safety and need to be properly installed and maintained throughout the life of the alarm. 
• An alarm’s age, placement and sensing technology all matter. 
• New smoke alarm technical standards are taking effect in June 2024, but you can already find these next generation devices on store shelves at Lowe’s stores nationwide. First Alert – the most trusted brand in home fire safety – is sharing information about the latest in smoke alarm technology – its Precision Detection Advanced Sensing technology – and sharing tips for home fire safety during the holidays.  

UL 217 8th Edition :

• Alarms certified under UL 217, 8th Edition, are tested to better detect fires in homes built and furnished with modern construction materials – where fires can spread more quickly than in older homes.  
• Older homes were built and furnished with heavier, natural materials like wood, cotton and linen. They also had lower ceilings and more individual rooms. 
• More modern homes are built and furnished with lighter, synthetic materials – which can grow into major fires more quickly – and feature layouts with higher ceilings and open floor plans. 
• Research shows that while residents had 17 minutes to escape their home in a fire in 1978, homeowners now have just a few minutes to escape their home – meaning early detection of smoke and fire is more important than ever.  
• Alarms that meet 8th Edition standards can also better detect nuisance alarms, like non-fire smoke from cooking. 
• Nuisance alarms can cause homeowners to disable their devices, especially during busy cooking seasons like the holidays. 
• It’s especially important for alarms near the kitchen to remain operational because, according to the NFPA, cooking is the #1 cause of home fires. 
• Almost three in five home fire deaths are caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41%) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16%). 
• The risk of dying in home fires is 55% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or alarms that fail to operate. 
• If you need to replace the smoke alarms in your home or you need additional alarms to help ensure your family is protected, you now have access to the latest smoke alarm technology.  
• First Alert has introduced a new line of alarms that meet these 8th Edition standards, and they are now available at Lowe’s stores nationwide.  
• More information about these Precision Detection alarms is available at FirstAlert.com.  

Current Smoke Alarms 

• Current smoke alarms will continue to provide protection until they reach their end of life. They, too, are designed to detect nuisance alarms and smoldering fires. 
• 10-year sealed battery alarms, which are required in many jurisdictions across the country, will function for the duration of their useful 10-year life. 
• Alarms don’t last forever, and it is necessary to replace smoke alarms every 10 years.  
• If you currently have a well-maintained alarm, continue to use it through its lifespan as it remains a first line of defense against the danger of smoke and fire. But when it’s time to replace, invest in the most up-to-date smoke and fire protection on the market and choose alarms that meet the new 8th Edition standards. 
• When alarms tested to the new standards roll out, they will provide an extra level of protection against fire threats.  

First Alert HOME1 Fire Extinguisher –

• Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires?  
• Help to protect your loved ones from the threat of a fire by incorporating a fire extinguisher into your overall home safety plan. Keep a fire extinguisher on every level of the home, including in the kitchen, garage, laundry room and near the bedrooms.  
• The First Alert HOME1 Fire Extinguisher is ideal to use in any household location and can even be recharged by a certified professional if used.  
• The HOME1 Fire Extinguisher is designed to fight wood, paper, fabric, flammable liquids and electrical fires.  
• Adults in the household should learn how to properly operate a fire extinguisher using the acronym P.A.S.S. Simply pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger and sweep from side to side. 

Additional Smoke and CO Alarm Tips  

• The NFPA recommends that smoke alarms be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, inside each bedroom and in the main corridors, and CO alarms should be installed on each level of the home and in a central location outside each bedroom.  
• To put this in perspective, a two-story, three-bedroom house needs a minimum of five smoke alarms and four CO alarms.  
• Once alarms are installed, be sure to properly maintain them: 
• Test the alarm regularly.  
• Replace batteries every six months.   
• With the added benefit of having 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms, you won’t need to worry about replacing the batteries for the life of the alarm, but it’s still important to test the alarm.   
• Alarms don’t last forever and it is necessary to replace smoke alarms every 10 years.  

Additional Fire Extinguisher Tips 

• There should be a fire extinguisher kept on every level of the home, especially on the main level near the kitchen.  
• Other areas to consider include the garage, laundry room, patio, workshop and near the bedrooms.  

Additional Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Stats  

• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths. 
• Almost three out of five home fire deaths are caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41%) or smoke alarms that did not work (16%). 
• The risk of dying in a home fire is 55% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked. 
• 66% of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.  
• Ranges or cooktops account for 63% of reported home fire incidents.  
• 50% of fire extinguisher owners have never operated one and 70% say they would not be very comfortable operating one. Yet 60% state they would very likely use one in the event of a small home fire.