What’s the best place to store your vital records for safekeeping? You have choices. Here’s the information to help you decide. The first decision is, fireproof or portable? Generally speaking, we can have one, but not both. The thick, strong walls that make a container fire-safe usually prevent it from being a good grab-and-go solution…
Category Archives: Products
A New Job for the Kitchen Sink: fire extinguisher
Here’s a design problem for you: how to improve the fire safety in the kitchen, the most common room where house fires begin? A home fire extinguisher is a good tool, but it has several limitations. First, it must be tested periodically to make sure it’s in good working order. In the case of a…
Automatic Christmas Tree Watering
To reduce fire danger in your home during the holiday season, keep the Christmas tree well watered. Two years ago I found this tree watering system at my local garden center, and it has been such a pleasure to use, I want to share it with Preparation Nation readers. The Ever-Green Tree Watering System, disguised…
Get out of town!
When should you leave home? In case of fire, mudslide, or rising flood water – whenever there is an immediate threat to your safety – you need to evacuate immediately. After an earthquake, services may be severely disrupted for a week or longer, making evacuation a wise choice. In order to evacuate safely, take these…
I always wanted to be in a movie!
Here’s a project that will help you be ready in case of fire, theft, storm damage, or any time you need to file an insurance claim: make a video of your home and upload it to an off-site storage location. New compact video cameras make it easier than ever to finish the job. At Preparation…
Free Offer from Rug Doctor – LA Area
For those whose homes were smoke saturated during this summer’s fires in the Los Angeles area, I want to pass along this generous offer from Rug Doctor for free 24-hour rentals. If you or someone you know is still sniffing smoke in northern Los Angeles County, take Rug Doctor up on this offer by October…
High-tail it! Getting your pets out safely
When making emergency preparations, don’t forget four-legged family members. The first step to improve your emergency plans for pets? Post a rescue alert sticker on your home. In case of fire or other emergency when you’re not at home or incapacitated, rescuers will know what to look for. Door stickers inform emergency workers of the…
Hot-cha! Fire extinguishers 101
Last night I put out a fire. Admittedly it was contained in a metal pan with controls overseen by a local fire inspector, but still. I got to pull the pin on a big shiny A-B-C extinguisher, squeeze the trigger-handle and sweep the foam over the base of the fire until the flames were extinguished….
Remember the Hindenburg! or, how to turn off the gas
Here’s a simple step that could make a huge difference in case of emergency: learn to turn off your gas. When to turn off your gas If you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a broken gas line, or suspect a gas leak, you may need to turn off your gas. Once you turn the…