Safety Tips for Fall

Here is a summary of the fall safety tips that can be found at the following link:
https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/projects-diy/fall-season-safety-tips

Service Your Furnace

Before the cold autumn and winter weather sets in, be sure to call your heating and cooling company to service your furnace. A specialist should inspect the furnace to make sure everything is in working order and that there are no leaks. As the seasons change, heating/cooling companies can get booked up pretty quickly, so consider giving them a call before the summer is over to schedule your maintenance ahead of time. 

Use Fireplaces Safely
Keep that fire in its proper place by using a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying out and catching your decorations, trees, or even pets on fire. Never leave a burning fire unattended and make sure that the fire in your fireplace is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. 

Use Caution With Space Heaters

A space heater is an effective way to warm up a chilly room, but it's essential that you read the instructions on the unit before you use it. If your space heater requires venting, make sure you've vented it to the outdoors. Always allow at least three feet of empty area around any space heaters you set up. While we're on the topic, never use your stove or oven to heat your home—it's a gas leak or fire hazard waiting to happen. 

Exercise Candle Caution
Candles are a great way to give a room that cozy warm glow, but they can also cause fires. According to the National Candle Association, almost 10,000 home fires start because of improper candle use. We're sure you know what that really means—never leave candles burning if you go out or go to sleep, and keep your candles away from pets and kids. 

Change Smoke Alarm Batteries
This is your friendly reminder to check/change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors after you turn back your clocks at the end of Daylight Saving Time. Don't just put the new batteries in—double-check that the alarms are working. 

Keep Fire Extinguishers on-Hand 
While you're on the fire-fighting front, check and replace any fire extinguishers that are expired. It's the season for big homemade feasts, and there's bound to be oil involved. Not every fire extinguisher is oil/grease safe, so make sure you have at least one Class K extinguisher around. 

5 Safety Tips for Fall Driving

There's nothing more beautiful than a fall drive, but this rainy season can bring some unique hazards to our drives that we don't encounter every day. Being aware of these potential dangers can help keep you and your family safe and prevent accidents.

Be Aware of Poor Visibility

Falling leaves, while beautiful, can obscure your vision, as can rain and fog. Shorter days are part of the fall season, making it more difficult to see children playing or people walking and riding bicycles. Be aware if you've got lower visibility and slow down if you can't see well before something comes into your line-of-sight. Use your dimmed headlights in bad weather with decreased visibility. If possible, try not to be on the roads when it's hard to see.

Need to Know

It doesn't matter how dark outside it is; if it's foggy, don't put on your high beams. This can decrease other people's visibility and won't really help with your own. 

Watch for Children

Children love to play in piles of leaves, so use extra caution when leaves are piled at curbside. In addition, the school bus will be making its rounds now that school is back in session. While kids should be taught how to properly play near the roads, you can't trust that they'll know what to do when the time comes. Kids, like deer, often freeze, so you have to be the vigilant one as the adult and driver. 

Slow Down on Wet Pavement

In many areas of the country, rain is the less idyllic precipitation that comes falling from the sky. If it's raining, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. Wet roads make it more difficult to stop. When wet leaves are on roadways, they make the pavement slippery, and it can be difficult for drivers to get good traction.

Be Prepared for Bright Sunlight

Sunrise may be pretty, but it can also present challenges for drivers. If you can, have a pair of sunglasses (prescription or otherwise) in your car to wear if the sun starts glaring. If it becomes too difficult to see because of bright sunlight or glare, pull over or into a parking lot until the sun has moved. 

Watch Out for Ice

As the temperatures drop further at night, a driver will need to spend some extra time in the morning scraping frost off their vehicle. Shady spots on the roadway may be home to black ice, which a driver may not be aware of until the car starts to skid. Hydroplaning is a serious concern for wet and icy conditions, and unless you've hydroplaned before, you won't know how you're going to react. 

Once you start to feel the tires lose traction, take your foot off the gas and gently keep control of the steering wheel, trying to maintain your position in the lane. Never jerk the wheel in reaction and try not to brake at all. But, if you must brake in an area that might have black ice, brake in short, successive pumps to slow the car down without losing as much traction. 

Enjoy the beautiful colors of fall and refocus on new safety challenges presented by the changing season!