0:01

These are today's tips

0:03

from AARP. How

0:08

fire -ready is your home? Disasters

0:10

can start from all kinds of

0:12

things. Forgotten candles, overloaded

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outlets, or that one

0:17

quick snack that turns into a

0:19

kitchen inferno. And while they

0:21

can affect anyone, older

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adults face a much higher

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risk, in fact. Between

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2013 and 2022, fire -related

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deaths rose by 22 %

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overall and by a whopping

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45 % among those aged

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65 to 74. And

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it's not usually the flames that

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kill, it's the smoke and toxic

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gases. The good news? You

0:44

don't need to become a firefighter

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to protect yourself. That's why we're

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sharing three fire prevention tips to

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keep you and your loved one

0:53

safe, including a laundering mistake to

0:55

avoid, how to choose the right

0:57

fire extinguisher, and where to turn

0:59

for help for smoke alarm installation.

1:06

Our first tip. Don't

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use essential oils in your

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dryer. These days, many people

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are swapping out scented dryer

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softeners for natural, eco -friendly options.

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Sure, they're good for your skin

1:19

and the planet, but truth

1:21

be told, your laundry may not

1:24

smell as fresh. And that's

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why some people are adding essential

1:28

oils to their wool dryer

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balls. Unfortunately, essential

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oils are flammable, and when mixed

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with dry wool in a hot

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dryer, Well, you've got a fire

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hazard waiting to happen. If you

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want your clothes to smell amazing

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and stay flame -free, just mix

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a few drops of essential oil

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with water in a spray bottle.

1:48

Give it a shake and spritz

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your clothes after they've dried. You

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get the same great scent without

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the fire risk. Our

2:01

next tip. Buy

2:03

the extinguisher that's right for you.

2:05

A fire extinguisher is like a

2:08

seatbelt. You hope you'll never need

2:10

it, but you're really happy it's there when

2:12

you do. And when it comes to buying

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one for your home, you need to choose

2:16

carefully. First, look for a

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label certifying it's been tested by

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a reputable group like UL.

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Then check to see what kinds

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of fires it's designed for,

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like wood, grease, and electrical, usually

2:28

represented by the letters A,

2:30

B, and C. ABC multi -purpose

2:32

extinguishers are usually a good fit

2:34

for homes. Size matters too.

2:36

Choose one you can easily lift.

2:39

Then mount it somewhere easy

2:41

to reach. And don't forget to

2:43

read the manual BEFORE they're

2:45

smoking your kitchen. Also, if your

2:47

fire extinguisher is more than

2:49

12 years old, it's time to

2:51

replace it. Our

2:57

last tip. Let

2:59

a firefighter do the heavy lifting.

3:01

Can't figure out how to install that

3:03

smoke alarm? Don't stress. Ask

3:05

your local fire department. Not

3:07

only do many of them offer

3:10

free or low -cost alarms, but some

3:12

will even send someone out to your

3:14

house to help install it. This

3:16

is a great option, especially for older

3:18

adults or anyone who'd rather not

3:20

climb a ladder. And hey, if your

3:22

smoke alarm's been beeping for weeks,

3:25

take it as a sign. It's not

3:27

haunted, it just needs a new

3:29

battery. And here's an extra safety tip.

3:31

Sit down with family and friends

3:33

and agree on a fire escape plan.

3:35

Fires move quickly. A little planning

3:38

goes a long way. For you, your

3:40

loved ones, and yes, the cat

3:42

too! To

3:47

review Keep your home fire

3:49

safe by keeping essential oils

3:51

out of your dryer. choosing

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the right fire extinguisher for

3:55

your needs, and contacting your

3:58

local fire department for help

4:00

with smoke alarm installation. Those

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are today's tips

4:09

from AARP. For more

4:11

advice to help you strengthen your

4:13

health, money, and happiness, visit

4:15

aarp .org. And

4:18

if you enjoyed these tips,

4:20

subscribe today so you'll never miss

4:22

an episode. Thanks for listening.