Stillwater Valley Advertiser 10-12-22

at Piqua Mall

Laura, Ohio Reunion Planned October 22

Autumn Art Exhibit at BNC Available thru December 11

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CHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Amanda Evans Joins EverHeart Hospice

EverHeart Hospice

MILTON UNION SCHOOL MEMORABILIA ON DISPLAY AT M-U PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Honoring

Signs Of Electrical Problems In A Home

According to the home safety experts at UL (formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories) learning to recognize warning signs of elec trical wiring issues can greatly lower the risk of house fires House fires pose a significant threat as the Electrical Safety Foundation International notes that electrical malfunctions cause more than 50 000 house fires each year UL indicates that the majority of those house fires can be pre vented and learning to recognize signs of a electrical problems in a home is a key component of home fire prevention

• Dimming or flickering lights: The UL notes that light fixtures do not typically draw a substantial amount of power so dimming or flickering lights is not often indicative of an issue with a fixture Dimming or flick ering lights could indicate that the circuit the lights are on is overbur dened, most likely by large appliances sharing the circuit with the lights If dimming and flickering lights are a problem, homeowners can speak to an electrician about moving the fixtures to another circuit or installing a new line specifically for major appliances

• Odors: Odor emanating from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel should be reported to an electrician immediately The odor, which some home owners indicate smells like fish, could be a result of an overheated cir cuit Odor coming from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel could indi cate a significant electrical issue, so homeowners should not hesitate to report this problem to an electrician Odors can sometimes travel through HVAC systems as well, so homeowners should take note and call an elec trician even if their outlets do not smell

• Hot outlets/switch plates: Outlets and/or switch plates that are hot to the touch are another indicator of an electrical issue UL notes that outlets that become hot even when nothing is plugged into them could be wired incorrectly In such instances, an electrician will need to fix the issue, and in the meantime it may be best for homeowners to flip the breaker or remove the fuse for the outlet

• Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers: According to UL, circuit breakers and fuses have a built in fail safe that is designed to prevent overloading Sometimes a tripped breaker is a result of an aging appli ance One way to detect that is to plug in the product to more than one outlet in the house If each breaker trips, then the appliance is likely to blame However, if using the same outlet continues to trip the breaker regardless of what’s plugged into it, then the circuit requires the attention of an electrician

Electrical issues increase the risk for home fires Fortunately, such issues are generally preventable and often easily remedied by a qualified electrician

How To Reduce Risk Of Home Fires This Holiday Season

Safety might not be the first thing people think of as the holiday season approaches Faith, celebrations, deco rations, and holiday dinners all come to mind when considering the holiday season But that doesn’t mean safety should be left out of holiday planning

Fire safety bears special consideration during the holiday season, when the prevalence of fire hazards like Christmas trees, holiday lighting displays and other decorative items increase the risk for home fires Such tragedies can be averted with a few simple safety measures

• Tend to your tree Live Christmas trees are awe inspiring, but they also pose a significant fire risk The National Fire Protection Association urges celebrants to purchase only healthy trees with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched Such trees are less likely to dry out, especially when well watered throughout the season Dry trees can catch fire more easily than healthy trees if embers from nearby fireplaces or candles drift in their direction

Recognize that location matters when decorating The NFPA notes that Christmas trees should always be placed at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, space heaters, heat vents, candles, and even overhead lights If decorating with candles, never place them on the tree or on tables where other flammable dec orations have already been placed Chanukah menorahs should never be placed near curtains or other decorations

• Turn off all lights and extinguish all lit decorative items when leaving the home or going to bed Lit candles and menorahs should never be left unattended The NFPA recommends turning tree lights and exterior decorative lights off when leaving the home or going to bed

• Utilize a fire screen on fireplaces Embers can catch on trees, decorations or anything else that’s flammable if they escape the fireplace Fire screens prevent that from happening by ensuring embers from burning logs stay in the fireplace Like candles and menorahs, fires burning in a fireplace should never be left unattended Make sure all embers have been extinguished before leaving the home or going to bed

• Keep discarded trees away from your home A 2014 analysis from the NFPA found that none of the ten days with the largest share of Christmas tree fires were before Christmas Dried out trees still pose a fire risk even after they’ve been removed from a home When discarding a tree at the end of the holiday season, place it at the curb or keep it a safe distance away from your home and garage until you can

Fire safety measures are an important component of the holiday season that can prevent this joyous time of year from turning tragic

A Recipe For Safer Home Cooking

Making meals together in the kitchen can be an enjoyable activity for couples and families Preparing food at home enables anyone to cus tomize ingredients to fit with their specific diets and tastes

The kitchen may be one of the most popular rooms in the home to gather, but it also can be among the most dangerous Even modest meals can put individuals at risk According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a database of emergency room visits and the injuries that preceded them, finger lacerations and finger avulsions from knives, upper torso burns and lacerations from drinking glasses and bottles/jars are the most common injuries Hand burns from cookware and ovens also cause a high number of injuries

Cuts and burns may cause instantly recognizable injuries but bacteria can be even more harmful, even if it’s not as noticeable According to the food and beverage news site FoodBeast, the average cutting board is home to 200 percent more fecal bacteria than the average toilet seat!

With so many potential threats lurking, cooks must be especially vigi lant when preparing meals at home These strategies can make cooking in the kitchen more safe

• Keep a watch on foods, as walking away from something cooking on the stove or going outside while the oven is on is risky Do not leave cooking food unattended for an extended period of time It only takes a minute for something to catch on fire

• Keep flammable items away from open flames Wear short or close fit ting sleeves when cooking, as loose clothing can catch fire Make sure curtains pot holders and towels are away from hot surfaces

• Remember that hot items remain hot for some time Use oven mitts or pot holders when handling hot cookware

• Sharpen knives as sharp knives cut more easily thus reducing risk for injuries

• Clean cooking surfaces to prevent the buildup of grease, which can catch fire

• Turn pan and pot handles inward on stoves or counters to prevent food spills

• Always defrost foods in the microwave or overnight in the refrigerator to reduce the chances that pathogens may develop

• Prepare raw meats, poultry and seafood away from fresh produce to avoid cross contamination Utilize separate cutting boards and knives, and use warm soapy water to wash away bacteria from surfaces

• Wash hands before and after handling ingredients

• Keep pets and children out of the kitchen or away from any in use appli ances including outdoor grills

• Invest in a food thermometer to ensure that food is properly cooked to the right temperature to reduce risk of foodborne illnesses

Kitchens are popular gathering spaces and various measures can make home cooking more