Back to school season is here, although it looks a little different than we had hoped. Many of you have kids that will be home for remote learning. We know they will have lots of screen time. They could be cooking themselves breakfast and lunch, all while having free reign of the house. Let’s all take a little time to ensure everything goes smoothly, and most importantly, that everyone stays safe.
Check your smoke alarms. Are they over 10 years old? If yes, replace them. Battery operated and hard-wired alarms are only good for 10 years.
If they are under the 10-year mark, give them some fresh batteries. The same goes for your carbon monoxide alarms. Have one on every level. If you just have one, place it outside of where you sleep. Inform your kids that if either of them goes off when they are home, they need to go straight to the meeting place, and call 911-from outside. It’s only OK to grab your pets if they are right there with you. You don’t have time to go searching for them. Get to the meeting place and leave that to the firefighters.
Check your cords. Make sure all the electronics are plugged directly into the wall or into a surge-protected power strip. Avoid using extension cords.
Check your electronic devices. Not only are kids Zooming from the comfort of their beds, but research shows that 53% of children/teens charge their phone, tablet or Chrome book, either on their bed, under their pillow, or on the carpeting. This is extremely dangerous. The heat generated cannot dissipate and the charger will become hotter and hotter, possibly resulting in a fire. This places everyone at home in great danger. Please check where you and your family charge your electronic devices. When they are done charging, unplug the charger. It’s obvious that electronics hold a deeply rooted place in our lives, even while we’re sleeping. But phone chargers themselves, should always be kept out of your bedroom if you’re looking to exercise fire safety best practices.
Finally, go over kitchen safety with your kids. Make sure pot handles are turned in over the counter when cooking, and that burners get turned off when done. Setting a timer is a good way to ensure that they don’t forget something is on the stove.
We will get through this. In the meantime, #StaySafeNaperville!
