Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
New Year's Day is a good day to make some simple checks and maintenance around the house. Do these things every year on New Year's Day.
1) Check all smoke detectors in your home.
2) Check all Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home (you do have them, don't you?)
3) Check all of the fire extinguishers in your home AND in your cars (you do keep them in your cars... don't you?)
4) Check all emergency flashlights in your home and car as well as those you carry
5) Check knives that you have set aside for emergency use
6) Check guns you have for home/self-defense.
7) Check first aide supplies in your home and car.
8) If you have an emergency generator:
9) Review emergency plans with your family
1) Check all smoke detectors in your home.
- Inspect for obvious damage, problems, etc.
- Vacuum clean with a brush attachment
- Replace batteries (even if they supposidly have a 10-year life, even if the detector is AC powered and the batteries are only for backup, batteries are cheap)
- Test according to manufacturer's instructions
- Replace the whole detector every ten years regardless of how good it looks/tests (write the install date on the back or inside the battery compartment with a Sharpie pen)
- Evaluate if you have enough detectors in your house and add more if necessary
2) Check all Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home (you do have them, don't you?)
- Inspect for obvious damage, problems, etc.
- Vacuum clean with a brush attachment
- Replace batteries (even if the detector is AC powered and the batteries are only for backup, batteries are cheap)
- Test according to manufacturer's instructions
- Replace the whole detector every five years regardless of how good it looks/tests (write the install date on the back or inside the battery compartment with a Sharpie pen)
- Evaluate if you have enough detectors in your house and add more if necessary
3) Check all of the fire extinguishers in your home AND in your cars (you do keep them in your cars... don't you?)
- Inspect for obvious damage, problems, etc. Pay special attention to the discharge nozle to be sure it's clear. Make sure that the pin is in place. Check the pressure guage to be sure it's still in the green zone.
- Physically shake dry-chemical extinguishers to loosen the dry agent powder (this should be done every few months).
- Replace or professionally-service the extinguishers regardless of how they look at the interval recommended by the manufacturer. Mark extinguishers on the bottom with the date you put them into service.
- Evaluate if you have enough extinguishers throughout your house and car.
4) Check all emergency flashlights in your home and car as well as those you carry
- Check for obvious physical damage or deterioration
- Replace the batteries even if they haven't been used once the whole year. Batteries are cheap compared to the cost of having a light not work when needed.
- Evaluate if you have enough and appropriate flashlights in your house, car, and for carry.
5) Check knives that you have set aside for emergency use
- Check physical condition.
- Clean and lubricate as necessary.
- Check the edge
6) Check guns you have for home/self-defense.
- Inspect for physical damage or problems
- Replace chambered rounds (you can save the round for practice use, but a round left in the chamber for a long time may have lubricants soak into it, so just replace it.)
- Lubricate the gun
- Be sure that locks are working correctly
7) Check first aide supplies in your home and car.
- Replace any which are missing/used or damaged/deteriorated
- Especially those kept in cars deteriorate quickly, so replace any which are near or past expiration date
8) If you have an emergency generator:
- Replace stored gas for it.
- Physically inspect your generator and extension/connection cords for damage or deterioration.
- Start your generator and operate it for an hour or so.
9) Review emergency plans with your family
