The Home Safety Council(R) Partners with Lowe's to Promote Healthy and Safe Homes

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As the weather cools down and people spend more time indoors, the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning incidents rises. This fall, the national nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC) and its founding sponsor Lowe's are urging families to create a healthy and safe home environment, which includes taking steps to prevent home fire and CO hazards.

"As homeowners prepare to heat their homes for the first cool days of fall and begin staying indoors more, we want to be sure that they have the right products to help protect them from fire and carbon monoxide hazards," said Rick Jess, Lowe's merchandising vice president. "Lowe's makes it easy for families to have a healthy and safe home because even the smallest devices, like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, can help prevent a life-threatening incident."

Despite the increasing risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning as the weather turns cooler, a new Home Safety Council survey found that most respondents (97 percent) do not consider the fall season as a top time for home injuries. This lack of concern could leave homes and families unprepared should an emergency happen this season.

"With the right tools and a little advance planning, families can prevent a real tragedy," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "Taking a few simple actions like testing your smoke alarms and replacing alarms that are more than 10 years old can make a big difference in keeping your family safe and healthy throughout the year."

Create a Safe and Healthy Home

Dropping temperatures are a good reminder to families to conduct a fall home safety walk-through, improving the health of their homes before the winter season truly begins.

Fire Safety Checklist:

The Home Safety Council and Lowe's offer the following home fire safety checklist to make sure families have the right products and practices in place to safely handle a home fire emergency.

    -- Smoke alarms work every minute of every day. Over time, the sensors
       begin to wear out and reliability of the alarm declines. If your alarms
       are 10 years old or more -- or if you're not sure how old they are --
       don't take a chance. Replace them with new alarms.

    -- Purchase smoke alarms that are listed by an independent testing
       laboratory such as UL, ETL, CSA, etc.

    -- At a minimum, install smoke alarms on every level of your home,
       including the basement, and near every bedroom.

    -- Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer's
       instructions or push the "test button" on the face of the alarm cover.

    -- Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year. Do
       this sooner if the alarm makes a regular chirping signal, indicating
       low battery power.

    -- Consider using interconnected smoke alarms. These are available with
       wireless connection and hard-wired with battery back-up. These alarms
       are linked together so that if one alarm operates, they all signal at
       once, giving you precious extra time to get your family members to
       safety.

    -- Make a fire escape plan for your family with two exits out of every
       room and an outside meeting place.

    -- Hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.

    -- You might need a fire escape ladder to get out of upstairs bedroom
       windows. If so, they should be stored near the windows and made part of
       your fire drills. Practice with them from a ground-floor window to
       prevent injury.

    -- If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out. Do not go
       back inside for any reason. Call the fire department from outside the
       burning building.

    -- Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.

    -- Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home
       or when you remodel.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Precautions:

Carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly gas that is produced by fuel- burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters. It is commonly known as "the silent killer" because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Follow these CO safety tips to improve the health of your home.

    -- Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas.

    -- Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up your home's
       central heating system and repair leaks or other problems; fireplaces
       and woodstoves should also be inspected each year and cleaned or
       repaired as needed.

    -- Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.

    -- Never use an oven or range to heat your home.

    -- Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed
       garage.

    -- Portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them
       indoors, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow carbon
       monoxide to collect. Follow usage directions closely.

For more information on ways to create a safe and healthy home, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org or www.lowes.com/healthyhome.

About the Home Safety Council

The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Washington, DC.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 13 million customers a week at more than 1,425 home improvement stores in 49 states. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

    Contacts:  Shannon McDaniel                Karen Cobb
               Brand Resources Group, Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.
               703.739.8341                    704.758.3504

SOURCE The Home Safety Council