Fire Prevention and Safety Tips
When it comes to your home, it is important to stay safe. An emergency situation like a fire can happen at any time. Are you prepared? Read below for helpful tips on fire prevention for your home and how you can keep your family and abode safe. Kitchen According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cooking is the leading cause of residential buildings. The best way to prevent this is to never leave things unattended, especially on the stovetop. If you plan on using the oven, make sure to set a timer if you must leave the room. Also, regular oven checks are a good idea! Keep the clutter to a minimum. Kitchen counters tend to be cluttered with many flammable items such as paper towels and oven mitts. Make sure to keep these things away from the stovetops. Bedroom Make sure to clean out closets and storage places regularly. Piles of clothes and papers can create a flammable hazard that can spread fire quickly. Avoid draping clothes on top of lampshades. The heat of the bulb can ignite clothing instantly. Use electric space heaters and blankets that are approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories. Electrical and Appliances Between 2010 and 2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an average of 45,210 home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction. Appliances can short out and spark, which can turn into a disaster if you’re not at home. The National Fire Protection Association suggests you only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a toaster, coffee maker, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time. Plug major appliances (Refrigerators, stoves, microwave ovens, etc.) directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used for these items. Do not put electrical cords against the walls or under furniture where heat can build up. Never leave your home with the dryer running. Don’t overload an outlet with too many things plugged in. Clean out dryer lint traps and replace filters on your vacuum. Have your wiring checked out, especially if you live in an older home. Insurance In addition to your fireproofing efforts, ensure you know your home insurance or renters’ insurance policies in case of a fire.
Where to Picnic in the Park Around Town
What better way to enjoy a warm summer day than with a picnic in the park? Luckily for you, there are plenty to be found in SoCal. We are sharing our favorite spots for a bite to eat with nature abound in this week’s blog, so read on! ROXBURY MEMORIAL PARK Location: 471 S Roxbury Dr. | Beverly Hills Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, the Roxbury Memorial Park encompasses more than 11 acres of green space. The park has a community center that offers a number of recreational activities. Aside from that, the vibrant and perfectly maintained park serves as an excellent choice for a relaxed picnic. BARNSDALL ART PARK Location: 4804 Hollywood Blvd. | Los Angeles If you happen to love architecture and the outdoors, the Barnsdall Art park may be the best park for you. As one of our favorite parks for picnicking, the lush greenery is also home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House. Enjoy breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign at the Barnsdall Art Park. WILL ROGERS STATE HISTORIC PARK Location: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd. | Pacific Palisades For those that are local, the name Will Roger’s has become synonymous with LA. As the first mayor of Beverly Hills, it should come as no surprise that the famed actor became “America’s most beloved citizen.” The 359 acres of Will Roger’s State Park, once the ranch of the Hollywood legend, now bodes as a cherished city park gem. A state historical park, the land has become home to LA’s only Polo field and a true local favorite. Take in the California sun at Will Roger’s State Park and enjoy a bit of SoCal history. CALABASAS CREEK PARK Location: 23527 Calabasas Rd. | Calabasas Travel back to the Victorian era in this quaint community park that brims with old-fashioned charm. Calabasas Creek Park maybe lasts on our list of the top parks for picnicking, but we’re ranking it as just as enjoyable as the rest. Along with featuring one of the two creeks in the area, the park is also home to the Leonis Adobe Museum. See the home of Leonis Adobe, Plummer House, and even a recreated Chumash village, all at Calabasas Creek Park! LAKE BALBOA PARK Location: 6300 Balboa Blvd. | Van Nuys Blooming with stunning cherry blossom trees alongside a tranquil lake, Lake Balboa serves as the perfect picnic spot. Whether you pack a light snack or a full spread, you’ll love sitting lakeside as a bevy of geese floats by. If you want to change up your setting, take a stroll through the park’s Japanese Tea Garden. You can even rent a swan paddle boat to take out on the lake if you’re feeling adventurous.
Recycling Made Easy: Top 5 Recycling Tips
When it comes to going green, we have a few helpful tips! Jumpstart your recycling efforts this summer with our top 5 recycling tips. RECYCLING BINS Buy recycling bins for recycling storage containers and paper around the house. Make sure to sort out the recyclable waste such as old cardboard and plastic bottles, before throwing it in the bins. The recycled plastics can be reused for food storage making it a great dual recycling idea. INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS When it comes to recycling ideas, the use of solar panels in a home is an eco-friendly and efficient way to save energy costs. Although solar panels might be costly to install initially, they are a long-term investment that could potentially save you money in the long run. ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING LED light bulbs offer high cost and energy savings because they use less electricity. In addition, they do not need to be replaced as often as traditional incandescent bulbs. For this reason, energy-efficient light bulbs are a great recycling idea! COMPOSTING You can turn any food waste and kitchen scraps into compost instead of throwing them away. You can scrape any leftover food into compost bins and simply leave it over for some time. This compost will, in turn, be useful manure for the garden. Likewise, this makes it another great dual recycling idea. INSTALL A SMART METER Having a smart meter in your home is an ingenious way to conserve energy consumed by boilers and water heating systems. A smart meter can be programmed to be on only when the heating devices are in use and can be used to monitor your electricity consumption.
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