Fire Prevention Safety Week

September 30, 2020 hoeting

Every October, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) observes Fire Prevention Safety Week for families to plan, prepare and think about the importance of fire safety. Of course, every week is a good week to talk about fire safety because you never know when a fire emergency can strike. Here are a few fire safety tips and facts for you and your family to keep in mind.

Did You Know? Fire Safety Facts & Statistics

On average, seven people die in home fires every day.
Fire departments respond to an average of 355,400 home fires each year.
Cooking appliances are the leading cause of home fires.
65 percent of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors.
It only takes 30 seconds for a small fire to spread.

Kids Fire Safety Tips & To-Dos

Fire Prevention Tips

Don’t play with matches, lighters or candles.
Stay away from fireplaces and stoves.
Never cook or use appliances without adult supervision.
Be careful not to plug too many devices into one outlet or power strip.
Don’t put clothes, toys or flammable items near heat.

Home Safety Checklist

Check to see if each room has a smoke alarm. If not, tell a parent.
Look for smoke alarms in hallways or stairwells.
Ask your parents to let you hear what your smoke alarm sounds like.
Make sure your home’s windows and doors are free of clutter, toys and furniture.

Parents Fire Safety Tips & To-Dos

Fire Prevention Tips

Keep lighters and candles out of children’s reach.
Test your home’s smoke detectors at least once a month.
Keep fire safety equipment in your home. Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and escape ladders are common home fire safety items.
Identify any fire safety hazards, such as lint left in dryers, plugged in heating appliances, and cleaning your chimney.

Home Safety Checklist

Make sure your smoke alarm and batteries are working each month.
Get interconnected smoke alarms so when one sounds, they’ll all sound.
Create a home fire escape plan that shows two ways out of each room.
Practice your family’s fire escape plan at least twice a year.

Making a Fire Evacuation Plan

1. Find all of your home’s possible exits. Start by drawing your home’s floor plan. Spot at least two exits in each room. Make sure each exit is clear from clutter and easy to open in case of an emergency.
2. Install smoke detectors in your home. Alarms should be installed in hallways and inside of every bedroom on every level of your home so it’s easy to hear when sleeping.
3. Be prepared when you hear the alarm. If you hear your smoke alarm sound, leave immediately. When exiting, stay low to the ground to inhale less of the rising smoke.
4. Keep loved ones in mind. If you have elders or infants in the home, have a plan to get them to safety and assign one family member to help them ahead of time.
5. Stop, drop and roll. If your clothes catch on fire during an evacuation, Stop, Drop and Roll. Stop where you are, drop to the floor, and roll while covering your hands and eyes until the flames are gone.
6. Choose a place for everyone to meet safely. Make sure everyone knows how to get there. Call 9-1-1 once you’re in a safe place. Memorize phone numbers just in case you’re not at the meeting location to let family members know you’re safe.
7. Don’t go back inside. If you left family members or valuables behind, don’t go back towards the fire. When you call, let the dispatcher know so firefighters can handle the rescue. Wait until firefighters say it’s safe to go back to the home.

Practice the Family Fire Drill

Follow these easy steps to practice your fire drill. Remember to review your family’s plan at least twice a year.

Let your family know that you are going to practice the fire drill.
Explain that when the smoke alarm goes off, everyone should quickly and carefully leave the home and go to the Outside Meeting Place.
Ask everyone to go to a different room and wait for the alarm. After several minutes, set off the smoke alarm by pushing the test button and watch your family’s actions.
When everyone reassembles at the Outside Meeting Place, ask each family member to explain exactly what they did when the alarm went off.
Review any questions.

6 Interior Design Trends That Don’t Cost a Fortune

September 15, 2020 hoeting

Submitted by ScS

The hottest new trends aren’t always affordable. But if you want to give a space an update, rest assured that you can do so on a budget and still be trendy. U.K-based sofa and carpet specialist, ScS(link is external), provides six tips from interior designers on renovations to consider.

1. Traditional prints in modern spaces.

2. Curved sofas.

Curved sofas have been trending in 2020. This style combines a modern look with a comfy twist that can fit into most design styles.

3. Dark kitchens.

Dark colors are growing more popular in the kitchen. Try this trend on a smaller scale by giving your cupboards a new lease on life. Sand them down, and use wood paint to achieve the color you’re looking for. Don’t forget to use a primer and a top coat for the perfect finish, and try changing up your handles to complete the look. Avoid emulsion or generic paints, as these will be too thick and could become gloopy on the wood.

4. Grandmillennial style

A design that’s been a hot topic this year is the “grandmillennial style.” Combine classic looks with a contemporary edge. This look can be tailored to every color palette and preference, and it can be done by making just one or two simple swaps.

Replace your flooring with a traditional patterned carpet (pictured the Roger Feels Richmond design from ScS), which can help transform a space. You can make a smaller commitment to this trend by including fringe accessories and velvet furnishings.

5. Contrasting doors

Crisp white walls and other light tones are complemented perfectly by dark woods. This look can easily be achieved by incorporating darker doors. While changing the doors in your home can sound like an expensive job, it doesn’t have to be. But don’t discard your current doors just to achieve a new color.

Remove the doors, and sand them down until they’re nice and smooth. Before painting, apply a primer and top with a hard-wearing top coat to ensure they’re durable against marks and scrapes. If you’re using black paint, don’t forget to apply two or three layers to achieve the rich look you’re after.

6. Fun bathrooms.

While many are turning to funky tiling and walls, it can be an expensive choice. Instead, incorporate bright, patterned accessories, such as bath mats, shower curtains, and mirrors. Finalize the look with an indoor plant and wall prints.

Millennials Are Fueling Housing’s Rebound

September 2, 2020 hoeting

August 31, 2020

Young prospective home buyers in their 20s and 30s who were once reluctant to purchase are now driving the housing market recovery during the pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Even prior to the pandemic, millennial buyers were starting to increase in number, accounting for more than half of all new-home loans early last year. They have consistently stayed above that level in the first months of this year, too, realtor.com® data shows.

The large size of this generation has prompted predictions that they will make a lasting impact on the housing market. Millennials have now surpassed baby boomers as the largest living adult generation in the U.S., Pew Research Center data shows. The largest segment of millennial births occurred in 1990, so that cohort is turning 30 this year. “We anticipate as they turn 31 and 32, we’ll just see homebuying demand grow,” Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corp., told the Journal.

First American predicts millennials could purchase at least 15 million homes over the next decade.

Existing-home sales surged nearly 25% in July, reaching their highest seasonally adjusted annual rate since December 2006, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. First-time buyers comprised 34% of sales in July, up from 32% a year earlier.

The pandemic and low interest rates—which are under 3%—may be offering incentive for more young adults to finally buy. “Millennials, they’re roaring into home buying age,” Rick Arvielo, chief executive of mortgage lender New American Funding, told the Journal. “What the industry’s been talking about for a decade is whether they’re going to follow their predecessor generations in terms of their desire to own homes. … They have the same desires.”

Source:

“Millennials Help Power This Year’s Housing-Market Rebound,” The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 27, 2020) [Log-in required.]

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