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Prepping for Spring
New Mexico is experiencing an unusually dry winter, making the potential for fire hazards greater. Taking preventive measures by performing a thorough spring cleaning and home maintenance will help keep your family safe and your maintenance expenses lower.
Inside:
• Check electrical outlets and cords throughout your home for any potential fire hazards such as frayed wires, overloading and loose-fitting plugs.
• Check Fire Extinguishers to make sure they are in good condition and in an accessible place.
• Have your air conditioning inspected before turning it on for the season.
• Check water heater for leaks and corrosion.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter.
• Clean both the clothes dryer exhaust duct and the space under the dryer.
• Daylight savings time is the perfect time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Make sure to test them monthly.
• Check fixture light bulbs for the correct recommended wattage and replace any burned out bulbs. Consider replacing all high-intensity bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs to reduce energy and the amount of heat produced.
Outside:
• Clean up dried up leaves and grasses that accumulate in your yard. Keep leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.
• Remove any dead trees that might blow over in heavy winds. Keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires.
• Unplug outdoor tools and appliances when not in use.
• Always keep power cords and electrical equipment away from water or other wet areas.
• Treat all electrical lines with caution, even low voltage electrical lines and cords can be hazardous.
A little spring maintenance can go a long way to keeping your home safe this season.

Staying Safe this Winter
According to the NSW Fire Safety website, approximately 56% of all residential fires start in the kitchen. As winter approaches, the higher usage of electrical appliances increases the accidents involving electricity. By taking a few precautions, it is possible to keep your family safe form electrical hazards.
Preventing electrical fires:
• Test smoke alarm batteries every month and replace them once a year –you’re twice as likely to die in a home fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm
• Do not overload outlets
• Regularly check electrical leads for damage and faults
• Replace any appliances with frayed or worn cords –electrical appliances and faults cause almost 40% of home fires
• Store your electric blanket safely, roll don’t fold
• Before going to bed, turn off all electrical appliances at the power point
• Turn off electrical blankets and heaters when you’re not at home and before getting into bed
• Keep everything one meter away from your heater –the use of heaters are common causes of fires
• If you suspect a fault, have heater serviced or replaced
• Always supervise young children in rooms with open fires or working heaters
• Ensure flues and chimneys are regularly cleaned
• Strong fire screens should be set up in front of open fires
• Never use heat bags in bed
• Clean your clothes dryer lint filter before or after each use
• Ensure there is adequate air flow around your dryer
• Don’t leave the dryer operating when you’re not home
• Keep candles away from curtains with open windows and put them out when you leave the room
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
• Extinguish cigarettes properly before disposal
• Never smoke in bed