The following was taken from the Home Fire Safety Checklist. The checklist was developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent regulatory agency of the U.S. Government.

MATERIALS THAT BURN

Your home is filled with materials and products that will burn if ignited. Upholstered furniture, clothing, drapery fabrics, and liquids such as gasoline and volatile solvents are involved in many injury-causing fires each year. Most of these fires could be prevented.

Upholstered Furniture

In 1989, there were 18,600 residential fires associated with upholstered furniture; about 900 people lost their lives. About one half of these fires were caused by smoking materials. Property losses amounted to over $100 million from fires started by cigarette ignition of upholstered furniture.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the safety statements below.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   Upholstered furniture fabrics made from

     vinyl, wool or thermoplastic fibers are

     generally selected for safety reasons.       ___       ___

2.   I check thoroughly after parties for

     ashes or unextinguished cigarettes that

     may have fallen behind and between cushions

     and under furniture.                         ___       ___

Recommendations:

• Look for furniture designed to reduce the likelihood of furniture fire from cigarettes. Much of the furniture manufactured today has significantly greater resistance to ignition by cigarettes than upholstered furniture manufactured 10 to 15 years ago. This is particularly true of furniture manufactured to comply with the requirements of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's (UFAC) Voluntary Action Program. Such upholstered furniture may be identified by the gold colored tag on the furniture item. The legend on the front of the tag in red letters states -- "Important Consumer Safety Information from UFAC."


• Always check the furniture where smokers have been sitting for improperly discarded smoking materials. Ashes and lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed behind or between cushions or under furniture.


• Do not place or leave ashtrays on the arms of chairs where they can be knocked off.


• Look for fabrics made predominantly from thermoplastic fibers (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin) because they resist ignition by burning cigarettes better than cellulosic fabrics (rayon or cotton). In general, the higher the thermoplastic content, the greater the resistance to cigarette ignition.

Mattresses and Bedding

Smoldering fires in mattresses and bedding materials caused by cigarettes are a major cause of deaths in residential fires. In 1989, over 35,000 mattress/bedding fires caused about 700 deaths.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   "No smoking in bed" is a rule that is

     practiced in my home.                        ___       ___

2.   Heaters, ash trays, smoking materials and

     other fire sources are located away from 
    
     bedding.                                     ___       ___

Recommendations:

• DO NOT smoke in bed. Smoking in bed is a major cause of accidental fire deaths in homes.


• Locate heaters or other fire sources three feet from the bed to prevent the bed catching on fire.


• Consider replacing your old mattress with a new one if you are a smoker. Mattresses manufactured since 1973 are required to resist cigarette ignition.

Wearing Apparel

Most fibers used in clothing can burn, some more quickly than others. A significant number of clothing fires occur in the over 65 age roup principally from nightwear (robes, pajamas, nightgowns). In 1989 about 200 clothing fire deaths were reported; about three fourths occurred in the 65 and older age group. The severity of apparel burns is high. Hospital stays average over one month.

Small open flames, including matches, cigarette lighters, and candles are the major sources of clothing ignition. These are followed by ranges, open fires and space heaters. The most commonly worn garments that are associated with clothing ignition injuries are pajamas, nightgowns, robes, shirts/blouses, pants/slacks and dresses.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   When purchasing wearing apparel I consider

     fiber content and fabric construction for

     safety purposes.                             ___       ___

2.   I purchase garments for my children that 

     are intended for sleepwear since they are

     made to be flame resistant.                  ___       ___

Recommendations:

• Consider fabrics such as 100% polyester, nylon, wool and silk that are difficult to ignite and tend to self extinguish.


• Consider the flammability of certain fabrics containing cotton, cotton/polyester blends, rayon, and acrylic. These are relatively easy to ignite and burn rapidly.


• Look at fabric construction. It also affects ignitability. Tight weaves or knits and fabrics without a fuzzy or napped surface are less likely to ignite and burn rapidly than open knits or weaves, or fabrics with brushed or piled surfaces.


• Consider purchasing garments that can be removed without having to pull them over the head. Clothes that are easily removed can help prevent serious burns. If a garment can be quickly stripped off when it catches fire, injury will be far less severe or avoided altogether.


• Follow manufacturer's care and cleaning instructions on products labeled "flame resistant" to ensure that their flame resistant properties are maintained.

Flammable Liquids

One of the major causes of household fires is flammable liquids. These include gasoline, acetone, benzene, lacquer thinner, alcohol, turpentine, contact cements, paint thinner, kerosene, and charcoal lighter fluid. The most dangerous of all is gasoline.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   Flammable liquids are stored in properly 

     labeled, tightly closed non-glass 

     containers.                                  ___       ___

2.   These products are stored away from

     heaters, furnaces, water heaters, ranges,

     and other gas appliances.                    ___       ___

3.   Flammable liquids are stored out of reach

     of children.                                 ___       ___

Recommendation:

Take extra precautions in storing and using flammable liquids, such as gasoline, paint thinners, etc. They produce invisible explosive vapors that can ignite by a small spark at considerable distances from the flammable substance. Store outside the house.