WORCESTER, Mass., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With crisp autumn air sweeping in, many people begin to gather family and friends around a fireplace, warm their homes with space heaters, and set a seasonal mood with candles. While fun, these common activities also create fire risks that can have serious consequences.
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With Fire Prevention Week set for October 9-15th, The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE: THG), a leading provider of property and casualty products nationwide, reminds individuals to make safety a priority.
"Even a small fire can devastate a family and the statistics are sobering," said Mark Desrochers, president of personal lines at The Hanover. "According to the Insurance Information Institute, some 384,000 residential fires annually kill 2,600 people and injure 13,000. The good news is that with some basic precautions fires can be prevented."
To help avoid fires, The Hanover offers the following fire safety tips to consider during National Fire Prevention Week and throughout the year:
Install smoke detectors. While many assume that smoke detectors are installed everywhere, studies show that in 40 percent of home fire deaths no smoke detector was present. So detectors should be properly installed on each floor of a dwelling. Check existing detectors and change batteries when clocks are set back and moved forward each year.
Create a family evacuation plan. Finding a way out of a home during a fire emergency is not the time to create an evacuation plan. Think of the best ways out of the home should a fire occur in various spots and be sure it's well understood by everybody.
Maintain fireplaces and woodstoves on a seasonal basis. Chimney inspections and cleanings are essential as flammable deposits can accumulate and catch fire. Flames can enter the wall through cracks and openings in the chimney's lining and bricks. Frequent in-season cleanings are helpful if fireplaces are used often.
Monitor fires. Fires should be monitored and fire screens or glass doors installed so flames or burning wood don't escape into homes. You should never go to sleep in a room with a lit fireplace or candle.
Use candles carefully. Candles are especially prone to tipping over. Animals may bump into candles or knock them over with their tails. Young children often want to touch candles. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets and away from curtains, newspapers and other highly-flammable items.
Pay special attention to space heaters. Space heaters have become a popular supplemental heating appliance. Yet while they may seem safer than an open fireplace or candle, they can be tipped over and fuel ignited. Also, paper, curtains, and alcoholic beverages can ignite if brought too close.
Safely route and periodically check electrical cords. That means not running extension cords under rugs or plugging too many devices into one circuit. All electrical cords indoors and out should be checked for frayed wiring. Also, wiring that is excessively hot to the touch may indicate an over-taxed line that could start a fire.
Watch for hidden water leaks. Cold weather can produce hidden ice dams or frozen pipes that aren't visible until a pipe bursts or leaks inside a wall, possibly shorting wiring and starting a fire. Inspect roof eaves regularly and cover external faucets with an insulating cap.
Use alcohol safely. According to the CDC, use of alcohol was involved in 40 percent of residential fires. Drink responsibly, as consumption of alcohol may impair judgment and impact reaction time.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), based in Worcester, Mass., is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Michigan and Chaucer Holdings PLC, based in London, and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to businesses, individuals, and families through a select group of agents and brokers.
The company is ranked among the top 25 property and casualty insurers in the United States and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for nearly 160 years. Through Chaucer, the company also underwrites business at Lloyds in all major insurance and reinsurance classes, balancing global marine, energy, non-marine and aviation with U.K. motor and nuclear. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com.
CONTACT:
Media Relations
Amy Banek
5088554486
abanek@hanover.com
SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group