What to Expect the Toddler Years (227 page)

Do not permit anyone (particularly someone who has been drinking), house guests included, to smoke in bed or even while resting on the sofa (a dangling butt can quickly ignite a flammable surface).

Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children (much easier to do if smoking is totally off-limits in your home)—even a two-year-old may be able to light a lighter, and a three-year-old may be able to strike a match. If you carry matches or a lighter in your bag, be sure that your bag, too, is always out of reach. A lighter can become a very tantalizing object: Never light one in front of your toddler or allow him or her to light one even under your supervision.

Do not allow combustible rubbish (such as solvent-, oil-, or paint-soaked rags or paper towels) to accumulate. Pack such combustibles lightly in a trash container in a well-ventilated area that is not exposed to heat (from a furnace or space heater, oven, or direct sunlight). If you launder rags or cloths used to wipe up spills of flammables, air-dry them or wash them twice or with a grease-dissolving detergent before drying them in the dryer (otherwise they could catch fire).

Be cautious with hair sprays, nonstick cooking sprays, and other aerosol and non-aerosol products that contain flammable ingredients (check labels); don’t use them near a flame or a lighted cigarette and store them away from a heat source.

Store flammables, such as gasoline or kerosene, in containers designed for that purpose outside the home in an area
inaccessible to children. Do
not
store these flammables in the basement; the fumes could migrate and be ignited by the pilot light of a furnace or dryer, or another flame source at a seemingly safe distance away. Avoid using flammable liquids, kerosene as well as commercial products, for spot removal on clothing. If you do use such products, do so in a well-ventilated area and wash or dispose of any rags or cloths properly.

Don’t cook or work (or let anyone else cook or work) near a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater in clothing with floppy sleeves, loose scarves, or hanging shirt tails, any of which could dangle in a flame and catch fire.

Have your heating system checked and serviced annually.

Be careful not to overload electrical circuits (warm cords are a sign of overload). Always remove plugs from sockets properly (without jerking the cord), and check electrical appliances and cords regularly for scorch marks, which indicate serious trouble in the system, wear, and/or loose connections. Be sure to replace any worn or damaged wiring or plugs promptly. Don’t use lightweight extension cords. Use only 15-amp fuses for lighting, and never substitute anything else (such as a coin) for a fuse. It’s also a good idea to uncover the reason for a blown fuse or circuit breaker—was there an overload? (Overloaded circuits are a major cause of fire.) If you aren’t sure, check with a professional.

Fireplaces should be well-screened to keep any sparks from flying and igniting curtains, furniture, and so on. (A glass screen is safest, but does get hot—so be sure to keep your toddler away when the fire is blazing.) Never use barbecue lighter fluid or gasoline to start the fire (they can explode) or feed a fire with paper (a flake of smoldering paper could drift up the chimney and settle on a shingle or wood-shake roof, possibly igniting it). Also avoid burning magazines or wrapping paper in the fireplace; their inks can emit toxic fumes. The chimney should be checked and cleaned regularly (how often depends on how frequently the fireplace is used); a creosote build-up or a bird’s nest could touch off a fire.