How Safe are You? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Improper placement of pots and pans on a stove

The kitchen is the most hazardous room in the house. By far, it is improper placement of pots and pans with the handle protruding beyond the border of the stove. They are either bumped or caught by clothing. This is a major issue with children's injuries also. The number two burn factor was cleaning gas stoves with cleaning agents that ignite.

Answer: Ground fault interrupter (GFI)

GFIs are electrical outlets which sense a sudden surge of power, then act like a circuit breaker and 'trip', thus stopping current flow. Ground fault interrupters are mainly used in bathrooms and areas that have close water access. It is wise to have GFIs installed in every outlet in a home, but can be expensive. The first GFI was marketed in 1965 when used with swimming pool systems.

Answer: 3 feet

The proper ratio is 25% or 1/4. An eight-foot ladder should be placed two feet away from a wall. Placing a ladder too far from the structure may result in ladder failure, as most are not made to withstand an increased horizontal weight support.

Answer: Outdoor light bulbs should point downward

Installing lighting with the bulbs pointing downward prevents rain or snow from filling up the sockets with water, resulting in short-circuiting. Using lights on a metallic-foil tree might look good, but any shorting in the lights will energize the entire tree. Firs and cedar trees are the driest, and off-tree floodlights are recommended for safety.

It is recommended that a live tree not be displayed for more than eight days.

Answer: Lawn mowers

Every year in the 1990s, more than 200,000 toes or fingers were lost due to mostly careless use of power lawn mowers. Almost one-third of lawn mower accidents involved innocent bystanders being hit with flying projectiles. A rotary blade travels more than 200 MPH.

Answer: Light rain after a dry spell makes the road the slickest

After a dry spell, a light rain mixes with oils and dirt on roads which result in a very slick condition. Heavy rains wash these away. If you are blinded by an opposing vehicle's headlights, flashing yours will just blind them also while coming towards you. Never under-inflate tires as the sidewalls of tires make the vehicle handle more erratically. Also, one should never tailgate under any circumstances.

Answer: Noon - 6pm

It has been determined that between noon and 6pm, children are the most active, and the home is the busiest. It would seem that this time frame would be an added parent-focused one.

Answer: 60 amps

A 60-amp service means that a home will easily handle 60 amps of power that is fed into it throughout the home. Post 1956 homes were built to accept 100 amps. A pre-1956 home will have wiring that will easily overload when pulling 100 amps throughout the home, and fires could result.

It is recommended that extension cords not be used in these older homes, and circuit breakers not be rated more than 15 amps.

Answer: No building escape plan had been made prior

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the lack of smoke detectors was the number one contributor, but due to new laws and public awareness, having no fire escape plan has surpassed the detectors by far. A one minute family discussion three times per year is a smart investment in the quality of life.

It is also recommended that people who sleep in a bedroom, do this with the door closed, as this will give the occupant additional time to escape before being overcome by heat or smoke.

Answer: That the item was tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratory

The 'UL' tag should be on all electrical and electronic items in a home. This certifies that the item has met all U.S. federal and standard safety guidelines. Caution should be exercised when purchasing electronic items in online auctions, because these safety standards can differ from country to country, and some have no standards whatsoever.