• Lower your water heaters to 120 degrees.

• Before placing a child into the bath, test the temperature of the water by moving your hand rapidly through the water for several seconds. If the water feels hot, add cold water until the temperature feels comfortable. The temperature should not exceed 100F.

• Create a “safe zone” around the stove and oven and hot grills, with about a five-foot perimeter. Children must stay outside of this zone. Check their location before moving any hot liquids.

• Keep pot handles turned inward. Cook on rear burners when possible.

• Test all heated liquid and food before giving it to a child or placing it within their reach.

• Remove tablecloths when toddlers are present in the home. Also keep hot liquids, food and appliances away from the edges of tables

• Never hold a child while drinking a hot liquid.

• When using a microwave, follow food packaging and manufacturer’s instructions.

•  Keep arms, hands and faces away from steam from boiling liquids or microwaved foods.

• Puncture plastic wrap before heating foods in the microwave.

• Stir foods to distribute the heat.

Smoke alarms have a useful life of about ten years.

Smoke alarms are normally installed on the ceiling or high on the wall, with the top of the alarm not closer than 4 inches nor further than 12 inches from the ceiling. Alarms should be no closer than 3 feet from supply registers of forced air heating systems (that might blow on the alarm preventing it from seeing smoke) and no closer than 3 feet from the door to a kitchen or a bathroom containing a shower (steam can set the alarm off when the door is opened).

Smoke alarms have a useful life of about ten years. At that age they should be replaced, even if they seem to be working. This will assure that the alarm will be working when you need it.

Even though prices of today’s smoke alarms are less expensive than you might have paid some years ago, today’s alarms are more reliable. Thus, it is usually not worth keeping an old alarm rather than buying a replacement.

First check the batteries to stop a smoke alarm from beeping

If you own a smoke alarm that suddenly keeps you up with its incessant chirping, here are some ways you can silence the noise with a combination of troubleshooting methods and preventive maintenance.

• Check the batteries to stop a smoke alarm from beeping. Repeated, single chirps from an electric smoke alarm lets you know the battery backup is failing. If you change the battery and still hear chirps, ensure you haven’t put it in backwards.

• Hold down the test button on the smoke alarm to reset the alarm and “clear” the failing battery from its memory if it’s still beeping after you’ve changed the battery.

• Use a vacuum attachment or a can of compressed air (designed to clean computer keyboards) to clear any dust or insects from the fire alarm sensor. Try vacuuming twice a year to clear any spiderwebs or dust that can cause smoke alarm chirping.

• Alter the temperature of your home if your smoke detector is beeping at regular intervals at certain times. Your smoke alarm may chirp if it thinks the house is too hot or too cold.

• Ensure you’re troubleshooting the correct smoke alarm. Even if you’ve changed a battery in a smoke alarm, the chirping will continue if another smoke detector in the chain is beeping. If you have several smoke detectors hard-wired throughout your house, have each family member stand near one to determine the specific source of the beeping.

• Consult an electrician if none of the above methods stop the smoke alarm from beeping. You may need to replace your smoke alarms if they malfunction because of an electrical short or improper wiring.