Fire Safety Checklist for Home

Handling a tough situation needs some practice before hand, if it is to be handled properly. Similarly handling fire in home also requires some homework. Some inspection and practice is requires which will take not more than twenty minutes everyday. Firstly, a checklist should be made which requires questions to be answered to after thoroughly inspecting every corner of the home. 

The very first room of the house which is pose extreme fire threat to house is the kitchen. The checklist for the kitchen is:

• Is the kitchen occupied by grown ups when food is being cooked on the stove?
• Are the counters and stove tops uncluttered and clean?
• Are the pot holders in reachable distance of the stove?
• When cooking, are the handles of the pots turned inwards so that nobody bumps into them?
• Are curtains and other loose fabric away from the stove?
• Is there an area of three feet surrounding the stove which is a kids free zone when adults are cooking?
• Are the electrical appliances in the kitchen, such as toaster oven, blenders, food processors, coffee makers, and microwave plugged into different receptacle outlets?

The second threat to the house is the heating system. The checklist for the heating system is:

• When there is no one at home or when adults go to sleep are the heaters turned off always?
• Are the heaters placed at a distance of one meter away from everything such as furniture, people, and pets, especially material which can burn easily?
• Is the fireplace equipped with a sturdy screen in order to catch the sparks?
• Is the chimney been cleaned and inspected every year?
• Is the furnace been cleaned and inspected every year?
• Are the propane tanks and fuels stored outside the house?
• Has the family practiced the home fire drill in the past six months?
• Does everyone in the household has knowledge about the fire department’s emergency phone number, which needs to be dialed from the neighbor’s phone since everyone has to evacuate the house in case of fire?

Electrical gadgets and electric circuits are also dangerous if not handled properly. To check them, here is the check list:

• Are the extension cords laid safely and not across the doorways or under the carpet?
• Are the electrical cords in excellent condition and not worn out, cracked or frayed?
• Do the grown ups of the house unplugs electrical appliances, even such as lamps, after using them?

Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers must be installed on every floor of the house. The check list for this purpose is:

• Are there smoke alarms installed on every level of the house, including the attic or basement and also outside every sleeping area?
• Are the smoke alarm batteries working in all of them? 
• Are the smoke alarms tested by pressing the test button by a grown up?
• Are there more than one exit in the house?
• Are all the home exits clear of furniture, clutter, and toys?
• Is there home fire escape plan which also includes two exits? The two exits can consist of door and windows? 
• Is the decision being made about an outside safe place to meet after exiting the home?

If all the questions of every checklist are answered as yes then the house and the family members are ready to face fire accidents. If the answer is yes to fifteen to twenty questions then few adjustments are needed to be made to ensure safety in case of fire emergencies. And only ten to fourteen questions are answered as yes, then the family members need to double up and put in extra effort in order to be hit a fire safety home run. If less than ten questions are answered as yes, then the whole house needs to be revamped in order to make it a safe place to live in. Not only do the adults of the house need to get trained but also the children. If there is a pet in the house, it also needs to be included in the plan. 

Fire Safety and RV’s

RVs which stand for Recreational Vehicles, the name itself tells the whole thing i.e. RVs are meant for recreational purposes. But have we ever thought about things that deal with the safety of the RVs. Most RVs whether it be small or big, or any type are pretty sophisticated when it comes to safety devices and are equipped with state of the art devices to ensure the safety of the passengers. So, every owner of the RV should know what they are and how to use them in case of an emergency. Some of them are for fire safety too. 

There are 4 common types of fire safety devices or extinguishers available i.e. A, B, C & D. Every alphabet represents an extinguisher for specific kind of a fire. But it is not unusual to find an extinguisher which as ratings like AB or BC or even ABC. What this signifies is that one kind of extinguisher can be used to extinguish the fires of other types. The NFPA requires that all RV’s have a BC rated extinguisher near the key exit. These types of extinguishers are primarily used to extinguish fires that are caused by liquids which are combustive in nature and also gases like oil, gasoline and grease. A BC type can also be used to extinguish electrical fires. 

Most fires that breakout in the RVs are type A which are mainly caused due to combustive materials like paper for instance which means it would need a extinguisher of Type A to extinguish the fire. But, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you have more than one kind of fire extinguisher in the RV, preferably a BC type. Also, it would be a nice idea to keep the extinguisher as handy as possible so that if a fire breaks out it is very easy to find. Also, if one is towing a trailer it is a good idea to have a BC type extinguisher handy. 

But, would keeping these extinguishers in the RV alone serve the purpose? The answer is no. Unless and until one doesn’t have the correct knowledge of which extinguisher is used for which type of fire they serve no purpose. So, one should for what type of fire a particular type of extinguisher is used and also let everyone know in the RV about it. It is a good idea to have an orientation before starting the journey to let everybody know about its usage and location in case of an emergency. Labeling the extinguishers A or B or C or D is outdated and one should have a picture showing what kind of fire it may be used for. If is used to extinguish multiple kinds of fires then it should have the pictures for all types. It should also have a picture with a diagonal line indicating for which kind of fire it shouldn’t be used. After everybody learns about various kinds of extinguishers they should be trained to use the extinguisher properly.  

Although there are many kinds of extinguishers, they more or less work in the same fashion. The most important thing is to remember “PASS” which is an abbreviation of Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. Pull means, you have to pull the pin that is located right extinguisher’s top.  Aim means, to aim extinguisher’s nozzle on fire’s base. The next command Squeeze means, squeezing the handle standing about eight feet away from the blaze. One should free the handle if one wants to stop. The last command, Sweep, is to extinguish the fire by sweeping the extinguisher across the fire until it is extinguished. Remember to wait and see to make sure that it doesn’t get reignited again. Also, the foremost thing to remember is the self safety and other’s safety and it shouldn’t be risked in the course of extinguishing a fire. The wisest thing would be to take everyone out and away from fire. Then the immediate step to take is to call 911 at the earliest.  

Fire Safety and Mattresses

One of the last thoughts that come in the mind when we go to sleep in that soft pampering mattress is the fire safety. In fact how many times in life did we ever think about fire safety when going to bed? The answer is probably never. According to statistics from CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) about 365 people die every year from mattress related fires every year i.e. about one death a day due attributed to mattress related fires. After reading this statistics you might be compelled to rethink about the present sleeping arrangements and have a look at the insurance policies. Mattress manufacturers per federal requirements are required to comply with a fire repellant regulation that saves many lives. The new regulation will make it more stringent for the manufacturers to make mattresses which are more fire proof to fires that take place due to lighters, matches, candles etc. 

While the regulations dealing with mattress fires do not completely eliminate the chances of fires but these regulations may give that extra little time to save them from fire. As many of us know that it’s only a matter of few seconds for fire to surround a mattress. But the mattresses that are manufactured keeping in mind the above regulation burns much slower thus giving more time for the victims to escape fire and save from injury or death. Fires caused due to mattresses are one of the leading causes of death for kids, one of the reasons why it’s so important to take safety precautions of highest order. Some of them are discussed as follows. 

First thing to be careful about is not to smoke in bed, according to many statistics, smoking in bed is one of the biggest causes of mattress fires. Smoking in bed has led to many unintentional fatal fires in many homes. It should be noted that if the mattress is manufactured after the year of 1973, it must resist cigarette ignition, so always look for this important factor. The new regulation of July, 2007 would also require manufacturers to make mattresses to resist against open flame also. The next thing to take care of is the candles. Everybody likes to decorate their homes with beautiful and aromatic candles but would they every want to turn their house into an ugly burnt house with the same candles? Nobody would ever want to do that. So, always be watchful when lighting candles and put them off as when done. Also, do not ever leave the candles to burn and go to bed, this can be a potential fire hazard which can engulf whole house into flames within minutes. 

Also, teach the children to not to play with matches or lighters or candles. Children are always fascinated by something that burns, so always keep a watchful eye even if you have taught them not to light them. An important step towards the safety of every inmates of the house is to install fire and smoke alarms in every bedroom of the house. But, do not forget to check the alarm batteries regularly; failing to do so could result in alarm failing when actually needed. Make it a point to replace the batteries of the alarms yearly. 

The CPSC estimates say that more than 1,330 injuries and 365 deaths will be prevented every year due to the new regulation brought into ordinance in July, 2007. While it’s very hard to predict a fire for anyone but there are always ways to prepare just in case if one occurs. Apart from taking precautionary measures we must also make sure that we have home insurance or renter’s insurance to cover monetary and life damages. Insurance pays for the unexpected and it is not unusual for unexpected to happen. We may not be able to eliminate the chances of unexpected but we can definitely prepare for it and insurance is one of the best ways to prepare for the unexpected. 

Fire Safety and Kids

If you are looking for ways to teach your children fire safety in the home, it is not always necessary to find the information on the internet or in the local library. When it comes to fire safety there are no actual rules that apply. It is more like the commonsense steps to take to ensure the safety of your home and children during a fire. Child outgrowth education includes formulating some sort of plan. It is important that your house is well equipped with working smoke alarms. You should develop a plan that will inform the whole family, yet keep in mind it should be simple enough for children under the age of 12 to understand. 

Children have the tendency to be very curious so it would be good to beat them to the punch of finding out the hard way. Educate them about lighters and matches and the hazards that they cause. Try to make sure that they fully understand the use of these items and that they are not to be looked at as toys. If possible try to keep these things out of their reach. Also make sure to emphasize that fires are not always caused by children, as a matter of fact adults are more likely to set off a fire than children. For example the kitchen is one of the main spots that house fires begin. Food and other flammable products such as oil left on the stove at a high temperature are one of the many reasons that fires that tend to begin in the kitchen.  It is a god idea to keep children away from the kitchen when you are cooking. 

Another thing to stress to kids when discussing fire safety is the steps to take if they ever catch on fire or in case of heavy smoke. The main steps to remember if you or your clothes catch fire are to drop down to the ground and proceed to roll around until the fire dies out. Also notify them that in case a heavy smoke arises you will wrap the children in a wet blanket and instruct them to creep low, below the smoke. It is also good to keep in mind the parents are the ones who the children will depend on to keep them safe; so don’t panic, it will only make matters worse.

Child fire safety education is never ending process; most of the responsibility is placed on the parents. You may be confident that your house is fully child-proof and safe but never assume a house is completely safe; there are always dangers hanging around somewhere. Therefore make sure that the gadgets that are installed in your home are effective. Try vocal smoke alarms which are cogent alternatives to the traditional smoke alarm. It allows you to use your own voice to configure the alert; you can even record instructions on what to do, which will be great for younger children as well as elders. 

For the sake of their safety remember to keep them up to date on what to do in case of a fire emergency or any other danger constantly. Always remember that your child’s safety lies in your hand so it is also critical that you are aware of the safety information as well.

Fire Safety and Insurance

Insurance is one of the things which is thought about until when asked for. If you own a house, the whole responsibility is on you. But if you are living in an rented apartment, and there is fire due to a burning pan left by your neighbor unattended, it will be your responsibility again because you didn’t buy a renter’s insurance. Therefore, everyone is prone to danger, no matter if the fire is due to human error of a natural disaster. 

Renter’s insurance dose not cost more than a pizza deliver in a month. Majority of the renter’s insurance plans cover fire damages too. Discussions can be made with the insurance agents and insurance plans can be selected which covers the needs. Some insurance plans even cover really valuable objects such as your wedding rings. When buying a fire insurance policy it is necessary to think more than the house value. Suppose if the cost of the house is $200,000 and the insurance only covers the structure cost, then it would easily take more than this amount  to rebuild the house in case of any disaster. This estimate included everything from rebuilding the house to possessions like jewelry to flatware. It is important that owners and renters make an inventories of the objects they posses in their homes. It would be very smart to take pictures of the contents of your home and store it in a sage or a lock box in order to achieve peace of mind. When you go through the process of claims, many questions such as “How many dishes were there in the flatware?” will arise, which will be very difficult to answer then. 

Insurance companies will reduce the periodical premium to be paid if there are no bushes or flammable materials surrounding the house. In case of fire, the bushes or the flammable materials engulf the house and burns it down earlier than otherwise. Clearing these materials also helps to create defensible space for the firefighters. Although bushes provides a beautiful view, they also risks the life the inhabitants of the house. 

If the insurance is claimed in case of accident, on one hand it will help to restore the damages but on the other hand this process will increase the periodical premium. So in every case, prevention is better than cure. Firstly install smoke detectors in the house, especially in kitchen and rooms in which the family sleeps. They should be checked every month and must be replaced if they are older than ten years. The oil burner should be checked periodically by a professional. Do not leave electric appliances such as dishwashers, washing machine, heaters on when not at home or when you go to bed. Every floor of the home must be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher. 

House should have two exits so that if one of them is blocked, the other one can be used. It is better to have a fire safety plan before hand and let the whole family know about it. If there is a pet in the house, the plan should also include the pet. Be careful while burning candles because they produce lots of soot which can damage the ceilings, floors and walls. It can also damage the personal belongings. They should be burned in a safe place away from curtains, loose furniture fabric, people, children and pets. According to a research done by the Consumer Product Safety Commissions in 2001, fires caused by candles were due to existence of a combustible substance within close proximity of the candle. Another major reason for candle fire is tipping of candle by pets or children or knocking over by the wind. Extra care must be taken when burning gel candles as they burn longer than the wax candles, thus increasing the risk.

People usually are seen wondering whether they turned off the stove burner or not. People should make it a habit to double check electrical appliances and other instruments which can lead to fire, before leaving the house or before going to sleep. 

Fire Safety and Evacuation

According to an estimate, in the United Kingdom alone, more than 100,000 accidental fires occurred in colonized buildings causing more than 600 human deaths. But a lot of people have been led to believe that these figures are not acceptable and that they are also avoidable. There are many things that can be done in order to save more lives. When it comes to fire safety and the law, there has been lots of extra legal focus placed on it in the 2006 Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order. These new laws include the necessary requirements for employers to carry out a fire risk assessment and act accordingly to what it finds.  When it comes to the changes that can be made to an organizations facility in order to make it safer and more efficient, carrying out a fire risk assessment is the best way to identify these things. 

If you are equipped with the time and proficiency to carry out this process yourself then that’s all fine and dandy but it is best to leave this up to the professionals. Keep in mind that companies offering this service should only employ assessors that have at the least 10 years of experience with the fire brigade, as well as knowledge and efficiency to complete the assessment within a day. If they state that it will take longer than that then it would probably be best to choose another company to complete the task. Another good point is that by using outside companies to do the work for you, is a very cost efficient decision as well as security that they will comply with the required fire safety laws. Once the assessment is completed you should be provided with an easy to comprehend report that describes and explains time saving testing tips as well as procedures that can be carried out in order to keep your facility and employees safe from unexpected fires. 

Now fire safety risk assessments are not put in place to hinder the company, yet it is just there to fit into the time constraints and culture of the company to provide the best services possible; most legitimate have this as their main objective.  Another important thing to remember is that the HSE and Fire Service will carry out random spot inspections on companies. If the company is found to have 5 or more employees that have not completed the fire risk assessment it would be considered breaking the law and the necessary actions will be taken to correct it. Most companies do not have the building insured if they have not completed a fire risk assessment, which is a necessity for all organizations therefore putting the occupants as well as the facility in danger; this can also cause the entire company to be shut down for good. 

There are lots of ways that you can help yourself, your company, as well as your employees in the midst of a fire. In a real fire setting the way people react and the help and instructions given to them can make a big difference in the amount of fatalities caused by the fire. Facts state that you are more likely to be severely injured from the smoke than the actual fire. However if all individuals are correctly informed on what to do when a fire occurs as well as given an efficient yet simple smoke filtering device, then there would be lees fatalities present. 

Fire Place Safety

Fire places are root causes of many fires every year. It is not that they are directly responsible for this, but it is for up to us to take precautions that will prevent fires from breaking up due to fire places. There are certain precautions and in fact some instructions to be safe from fires due to fire place. Compliancy to these simple instructions prevents you and your family from the hazards of fire. 

The first step to take is to get rid of all the junk near the fire place because than can facilitate fire to catch and spread. Who doesn’t love the warmth provided by the fire place but neglecting certain things which has potential to cause fires is not a good idea either. A fire place can quickly become a fire hazard if proper care is not taken. Proper care should be taken to keep things like paper (mainly newspapers), kindles and firewood at a distance from embers which are burning. Protecting the fir place with a screen is a great way to stop the embers from flying off and outside the fire place. When installing a protective screen, make sure that it does not have big holes allowing ambers to still come out. 

One of the most neglected components of a fire place is the chimney. Home owners rarely look back at the chimney once installed. But this is not a good sign and is a potential danger in causing fire hazards. One should make it a routine to clean chimneys on a regular basis, say at least once a year. It is a common sight to see birds making nests in the chimneys during the spring and summer seasons. However, this usually goes unnoticed and home owners take this lightly which could prove to be a costly proposition in terms of both life and money. What these nests do is they not only block the chimneys causing smoke to return to the fire place but also could catch fire themselves which could turn into a big fire. Also, it is noticed that over a period of time, if the fire chimneys are not cleaned regularly a combustible substance called creosote is formed in the chimney which is once again a big fire hazard. For all of the reasons mentioned above it is a good idea to clean the chimneys every year. 

One should also be mindful about how much wood one is burning. It is not a good idea to burn lot of wood at once in the fire place. A small fire can exaggerate into a big fire within few seconds if the wood is dry which can be beyond the control. That is why it is wise to burn few logs at a time rather than overloading the fireplace. Also, keep in mind not to burn anything else in the fire place apart from regular wood or a fire log especially manufactured for fire places. One may be tempted to put newspapers or even trash in the fireplace, but they can light up a big fire pretty easily. So, think smart and act smart when it comes to fire place.

As always, fire extinguishers are life savers and having them handy would prevent many small fires from turning into a big blaze, no one has time to search for it when a fire occurs, so always keep it handy. Not to forget, fire smoke alarms are a must when you have a fire place. They can be life savers too. But, one should also take care of the fire smoke alarms as they do with their fire places. The fire smoke alarm batteries should be regularly changed to make sure that fire smoke alarm works when needed. The ideal scenario would be a smoke alarm which is electrically wired into home wiring and is always on. 

One more important thing to remember is to keep children away from both the fire place and also fire in case if one breaks out. Also it is not a good practice to leave the fire marooned. Make sure that the fire has completely seized in the fire place before retiring to bed. Thus, following these simple precautions ensures a safe and warm experience with fire places. 

Fire Alarm Pull Stations

Fire alarm stations are most of the time located in the corridors of hospitals, schools or office buildings; they are usually mounted on the wall next to the fire exits. Majority of big buildings have these fire alarm stations equipped. These are placed there just in case you are walking in the corridors and you happen to notice a thick smoke or dangers coming from one of the rooms, then you will have a quick and convenient way to call for help. It helps if you don’t know the address or location of the building you are in or if you cannot get to a phone in time enough. So a surefire way of alerting the fire officials is by utilizing one of these fire stations. These stations are or should be located on every floor of the building; they are easy to use, simply pull on the activation handle.

The pull station is conveniently connected to the fire department will automatically be alerted of your location so that they can dispatch to your home with no hesitations. These days they have many different types of fire alarm pull stations. The most common ones are the stations with traditional pull down lever. The newer models offer many variations of the fire station and how to activate those push buttons, and voice activated phones. Nonetheless, however it is activated; the fire department is immediately notified so that help can be sent your way. Although they are very easy to use and an easy to set off accidentally, it is wise to take necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. Majority of the time you will see these fire alarms covered in a glass casing to prevent accidental activation.

They are also placed high enough so that they are out of reach of children that way they will have no opportunity to play with the levers and accidentally trigger. Now although these fire stations are connected to the fire department directly, it is still separate from the entire fire alarm system in the building. Therefore although you pull down the lever on the fire alarm station it will only alert the fire officials it will not set off the sirens or sirens in the building. So even if you pull these levers the building and its occupants are still in danger. A fire pull station that is operating properly is of dire importance when trying to create a fire safe environment. Other things that are vital to remember is that the maintenance, location and proper placement all play a big part in a properly operating pull station. 

Most of the time these fire pull stations will be located where it is clearly accessible. No one should be incapable of noticing the fire pull stations upon every given quick scan around the room or corridor. If a fire alarm station is not in plain sight and easy accessibility of the individual who notices or falls upon the danger then the station is considered totally useless.  It is also necessary that the fire stations be inspected regularly to check for any glitches or damaged parts. It is advised to have routine fire drills since they will give clear indication of the levers functionality as well as provide a survey of the individual reactions and reaction times Therefore if there are any defects with the machine or lever itself the repairs will be completed at the time of discovery. 

Fire Alarm Monitoring

If your company is looking to provide top quality security and safety to employees, you may want to look into contracting with one of the many fire alarm monitoring companies. There are lots of different reasons why this type of service may be beneficial to your company. First of all if you have a system that is perpetually involved in fire alarm monitoring, it allows you to keep track of when your internal system is functioning inappropriately within the standards of your local fire code. Majority of the alarm monitoring companies offer monthly upkeep as part of the contract, which allows your employees to concentrate on producing top quality products and services to consumers, instead of having to monitor and inspect these systems themselves. 

These fire alarm monitoring companies also offer services that involve keeping you alert to any advances or upgrades that can be added to your existing system to maximize its functionality. By evaluating any new developments as well as determining whether they will heighten your fire alarm system, it allows them to keep your system as up to date as possible. Their services also include notifying the police as well as the local fire department. Since the monitoring company is tapped directly into the fire alarm system they will automatically know when the alarms go off in any sector of your facility.  They can take the initiative and set up contacts to the local fire department, giving them the position as well as any other information relevant to the location of the building on fire. Likewise they can also alert the police department in your area in order for them to respond and assist in keeping individuals from entering the building while fire officials are trying to contain the fire. 

These services once again allows you and your employees to focus on how to exit the building correctly, quickly, and safely; making it a goal to follow the exit strategy that you and your company have in place.  When searching for companies that provide fire alarm monitoring it is imperative that you obtain quotes as well as specifics of the coverage from every company you are considering; price is but one factor that should be evaluated when searching for any type of company providing a service or product. It is also wise to make sure that whatever company you decide on for representing your business, provides all tasks and services needed for the particular situation. A good thing to do is ask for references which can give you a front line look at how their services work and how good they are. If the company refuses to give out references then it is advised to look into another company. Keep in mind that you want a company that will not only do what you need it to do but one that also has an evident track record with existing customers. Nonetheless, a company with the lowest price is not always the best company to go with because there may be a lot of additional services needed by your company that are not included in your service package. A company that responds quickly and gives a good performance record is much more important than saving a few bucks. 

It is a very serious business decision to make when thinking of purchasing services from a fire alarm monitoring company. It is also best for your company to leave that job of monitoring the fire alarm systems, to the monitoring companies; it will ensure you and your employees’ safety during an unexpected fire. 

Few Easy Steps to Prevent Fire in Your House

Building a home is the dream of every individual and it is this dream, which pushes you to work harder everyday to achieve your goal. Every member of our family is important to us and safety is a major concern when we live together. But there are certain things that we need to take care of while living in a home. With the passage of time our homes go through the normal wear and tear, it can be taken care off. However there are a few points which we need to know about home safety and which should be kept in mind while living in the home. We invest a lot of money on building our home and we would not damage our lovely homes intentionally. Many times disaster strikes and we are left in shock with the loss of our belongings and at times our loved ones. At such times we are helpless, but we can be prepared and must consider every aspect of safety in our home. Although people often overlook the possibility of danger in their own homes it can actually cause a great amount of trouble and can even leave them homeless.  One such aspect is the dangers that can be caused due to a fire.

There are many reasons for which a house can catch a fire and the cause of fire cannot be ascertained immediately. Most of the times a house catch fires because of the negligence of one or more people living in that house or due to a natural disaster. Let’s visualize that you are in the kitchen, using a gas stove to cook your delicious turkey but as soon as your turn that gas stove valve on, the phone rings. You drop what you were doing and go to attend to the phone call. It was your friend so you have a long chat with her and you plan for the evening to meet at a nearby pub. Now after you put down the phone and go to the kitchen you do not think about the valve, which you switched on, and light a match, there it goes. Not knowing about the gas leakage you turn the match and it catches a huge fire. This is not just a scene from a Hollywood movie but in fact it has happened a lot of times.

The first and most important in any kind of safety is presence of mind and its importance cannot be stressed enough. There is always a need to keep a check on different things in the house, which can spark a chain reaction or a house fire. There are many things around you that can cause such a reaction and consequently become the root cause for a house fire. Let’s talk about certain measures that can be taken to prevent the home you live in from catching fire. What’s needed is that you check on certain things in the home every time you are in the house and you need to make sure that everything is at its proper place. Only after you keep this check you can have a sound sleep. These are the following things that need to be checked for preventing the house from a fire:

Kitchen and gas appliances: these are normally the biggest threat that we can have in our homes and are the most common cause to trigger a house fire. You need to check your all house appliances that are concerned with the kitchen and those running on the gas. Gas heaters or gas stoves are a few of them. You should make sure that the connection is turned off after the use.

Electric appliances: a lot of people do not believe that electric appliances cause a fire but in reality electric appliances can trigger a house fire. This is especially in the case of a short circuit. For that reason we should avoid or rather never put an unnecessary load on a single switch.

Burning candles: candles which are kept for the purpose of decoration or for other use are to be handled with care and you need to make sure that they are not kept close to the curtains or other material which can catch fie easily.

Besides these there are other smaller concerns that you will observe after spending a while in your home. These possible threats should be taken care of as soon as you can since safety comes first.

Choosing a Fire Extinguisher for your Home

When it comes to the correct steps in battling against house fires, having a fire extinguisher handy is the first rule of thumb to follow. This will be your number one line of defense before the fire officials arrive. It is a good idea to have at least two fire extinguishers in your home. There are five elements that are present when a fire occurs: oxygen, heat, fuel, and some type of chemical reaction. All of these five elements form what is known as the fire triangle. Once the fire triangle is identified then the fire can be eradicated by either taking away or isolating any one of those elements of the triangle from all the rest of the elements in order to prevent a house fire.  

Today’s market offers various types of fire extinguishers. It is very important that you use the accurate fire extinguisher when trying to put out a fire. If you use the incorrect type of fire extinguisher there may be a problem trying to diminish the fire therefore making the extinguisher ineffective. As a matter of fact using the wrong type of conformity can cause the fire to reignite after seemingly putting out the fire. Make sure you do your research before purchasing a fire extinguisher, since most suppliers are ignorant to the suitable types of fire extinguishers for your home; it is diplomatic to do a thorough check on your extinguishers in your home. 

When classifying the types of fires there are three categories they fall up under. The first class is called a Class A fire; these fires are mostly caused by burning wood, paper, cloth, plastics etc. The second class of fires is called Class K fires. These types of fires normally originate in the kitchen; they involve cooking oil, vegetable fats and animal fats. The last class of fires is called Class C fires; these fires occur with electrical equipment such as motors, transformers and other appliances. The recommended fire extinguisher for homes is called a Dry chemical extinguisher. It works efficiently on Class A as well as Class C fires. The way it extinguishes the fire is simply by doing away with the chemical reaction part of the Fire triangle. This extinguisher creates a barricade in between the oxygen and the combustible elements of a Class A fire.   

Another type of fire extinguisher available on the market is a Water mist extinguisher which is mainly for wood, paper, or cloth fires; however it is also effective as well as safer for use on Class C fires. It eliminates the heat portion of the triangle. Next there is a Cartridge operated dry chemical extinguisher. These types of extinguisher are very pocket-friendly for small to mid-size fires in the home. Nonetheless there are other types available that can only be used for specific fires.  These models include water and foam extinguishers; these are only effective when used on a Class A fire. It should never be used on Class C fires which involve electrical equipment and cause someone to be electrocuted. Also Carbon dioxide extinguishers, which can be used for Class C fires (i.e. electrical).These are just a few of the many products offered to protect your home. Remember a fire extinguisher should be preserved in accordance with the relevant local rules.            

Basic Fire Prevention

According to the estimates of USFA in the year 2004 alone the number of fires that took place in the United States was 1.5 million. The estimated loss in dollars stood at staggering 9.8 billion dollars. More horrific figures reveal loss of death of about 3,900 approximately and about 18,000 injuries the same year. The USFA also said that during the same year the fatalities due to fires surpassed fatalities due to all sources combined. And the USFA also adds that even this number could be small in actuality as many small fires are not reported. The statistics also reveals that more than eighty three percent of all fatalities and eighty percent of the total injuries due to fires took place in homes. These figures come as a bitter surprise as most of the fires are pretty much preventable if adequate precautions are taken. Following certain basic fire safety guidelines could greatly reduce the chances of fires and protect the homes and people from this disaster from striking. 

One of the best ways to prevent home fires is to install smoke detectors at every floor of the home and also fire alarms. But, installing the smoke detectors alone would not serve the purpose. Some people think that “once installed forever installed” after installing smoke detectors. But, the fact is many a time the smoke detectors don’t work and do not detect smoke due to mere negligence on behalf of the house owner. The smoke detectors batteries should be tested and checked on a regular basis and in fact the smoke detector should also be tested in whole. Make it a point to replace the battery every year. Do not smoke at home. It is one of the biggest causes of home fires. 

The next big cause is electrical short circuit. Use properly rated wires for house wiring and so does other components. Also when plugging in electrical gadgets check the voltage rating to avoid shot circuits. Also, keep cords at a distance from rugs and carpet. Disconnect any appliance when done using. Replace old appliances or fix them before they become an electrical fire hazard. Also, use circuit breakers in the house wiring and also for plugging outlets to prevent fires due to overloading. 

In recent years a lot of fires have been experienced due to electrical heaters to supplement home heating. Care should be taken to keep portable heaters at a distance from combustible materials to prevent fires. Also, go for heaters that have auto shutoff in case of overloading or overheating. 

Fire places are also one of the biggest fire hazards in houses with fireplaces. Use screens to prevent fire spark from flying off to the outside of the fireplace. Keep combustible material at a distance from the fireplace to prevent them from catching fire. Also, do not overload the fireplace with excessive wood, which may cause sudden outburst of fire within few seconds and unexpectedly. Clean the chimneys periodically to help smoke escape freely into the air and also to clean bird nests which can catch fire. 

Have an escape plan ready for the home. It is a good idea to be also prepared for a fire. Practicing an escape from time to time also increases response during the times of actual fire. Have a plan for every room in the house. 

Educating the house inmates especially children would make evacuation plan easier in the event of an emergency. Children are especially fascinated about fires and like to create fires, about a hundred thousand fires a year are started by children while playing. 

People have a negligent attitude towards fire safety especially during the holidays. They relax every rule just for fun and end up paying huge price for that. Care should be taken even while selecting a Christmas tree, see that it’s not too big so as to make it difficult to manage and which can catch fire easily. Decorations which are non-flammable in nature should be used to decorate homes. 

Where to Find Car Shows

Finding the car show of your dream may seem impossible but in reality, it is not.  There are plenty of great places where you can search for your dream car show and with some creativity, you can find the show based on the type of car you are most interested in, or you could just search for any show that is close to where you are located.  The options are up to you, and the fun of enjoying the entire even is possible with just a bit of planning ahead of time.

One of the best places to look for car shows are in your local event calendars.  Most cities and regions offer these calendars and they can usually be found online as well.  They will give you information about the location of the show, admission charges, what is offered at the show and any other detailed information you need to know.  This will usually be a great way to locate those shows that are in your area that do not do much advertising as well.  

Another option that you have is to do a search in your favorite car magazine.  Most magazines have a place where groups can advertise the car shows that they are organizing.  This will allow you to see shows from all around the country typically and possibly even some shows that are located in different countries.  Each place has their own requirements and admission information that may not be readily available in the magazine but you should be able to find the dates and some general contact information to use to get more information if you need it.

If you belong to a car club, your monthly newsletter should also have some information on various car shows that you may be interested in.  This is not always going to be an all inclusive list so be sure to look around in other locations for information as well to ensure that you are getting a good picture of all shows that are going to be available. 

The newspaper is another good source.  Newspapers almost always report on events that are coming up, and this can be a great way to get a good scoop on the upcoming shows in the area.  Anyone who is organizing a car show in your area is going to ensure that their event is listed in the newspaper and this makes the perfect opportunity to find everything in a single place.

Some of your other options include doing a search on your favorite search engine for recent car shows.  This option is most effective if you are not concerned with sticking within a specific region.  It is often much harder to narrow down specific areas but it is still possible.  This can often be a great way to plan out any trips that you have in mind to take for a good while into the future.  This can also allow you to book hotels ahead of time for discounted rates if you are going to be traveling to the car shows. 

If you are interested in attending tons of car shows, you are going to find plenty that will interest you.  There are almost always at least one show a weekend and some weeks are busier with more than just a single show.  If you are interested, you could fill up all of your weekends for a year or even longer without any problems.  This would also be a great way to travel all around the country and check out some other attractions as well.  

Never think that car shows are boring, if you find the good ones you are sure to have a great time and the time spent locating the show is a great investment.  You are going to have a ton of fun planning your trip and searching for the car shows of your dreams as you can see is really a simple project.

When is the Best Time to Go to Car Shows

If you are trying to decide on the best time of year to attend car shows then you are in luck, there are several times of year when car shows are highly popular however, they do start to subside during the winter months when it is very cold.  Unless you plan on only searching for car shows that are indoors your best goal is to avoid shows in the winter unless you enjoy bundling up and venturing into the areas that are very warm.

Most car shows tend to be held in the spring and summer when it is very warm.  The number of shows in the winter months tends to subside heavily mostly due to the cold weather and the holidays combined together that make it very difficult for organizers to have a large enough attendance to be worth the effort.  If you are looking for the best car shows possible, you need to search heavily during the spring and summer.  

If you are looking for the best car shows in terms of weather, looking in the late spring and early summer is best.  This is the time of year when the weather is warm enough you can skip the heavy jackets, but still cool enough that you will not roast as you walk around the show grounds.  It is very important regardless of when you plan on attending the car show that you dress appropriately.  

For example, in the summer you need to wear short sleeves and shorts most likely, especially if the car show is outside so that you do not overheat while you are there.  In the early part of the spring, you should wear a lightweight jacket in case it is chilly outside.  If you are going to a show in the winter check to see if it is held indoors since many during the winter are.  Choosing appropriate clothing will ensure that you are not uncomfortable during the show.

If you are taking children with you, you may want to look for shows that are in the afternoons.  Late evenings tend to find children rather cranky and early mornings tend to also find children cranky because of having to wake up early.  Looking to the afternoon time frame after lunch usually finds kids in the best moods possible and less likely to get into trouble and misbehave.

If you are going to the car show by yourself or only with other adults, you may find it is best to go during the early part of the day so that you can avoid a good majority of the crowd that appears in the afternoon.  If you are looking for the biggest crowds of people then afternoon is generally going to be your prime time to attend.  Choosing the best time to attend the car show is often going to depend upon your schedule with other activities in the same weekend as well.  

Once you have a good indication of the weather and your schedule, it is usually quite easy to fit a trip to the car show in so that everyone is able to do something that they thoroughly enjoy without a lot of problems and hassles.  If you have any questions about what to wear to the show or the weather always feel free to consult the local weather, or call the organization that is sponsoring the car show to ask.  They are generally able to help you ensure that you are dressed appropriately and have a great time.

If you are quite uncertain over the weather, taking a change of clothes may be your best option to ensure that you are comfortable during the car show.  After all, you certainly do not want to be uncomfortable or you may want to leave early which could have you missing out on a large portion of the show.  Keeping yourself cool, warm and comfortable is a key need to ensuring that you enjoy the car show as much as possible. 

What Judges Look For at Car Shows

Have you ever wondered exactly what the judge’s at car shows are looking at?  Many people wonder and yet not everyone is always fully aware of what they are looking for.  Of course there are different categories have different criteria about what is expected for each car.  You are never going to please all of the judges, but if you know what they may be looking for, you can certainly help increase your chances of coming out well in the car show.

Clean cars, this is something that most people do not care about category for.  The only time you should ever have a dirty car is if you just participated in a race as part of the car show.  Otherwise, your car should be completely clean.  This means inside and outside and no signs of dirt or debris anywhere.  If you need to spend a few minutes after you arrive ensuring that it is clean and doing a bit of touch up work.

Scratches are something to avoid as well.  Judges are not impressed by scratches and there is rarely ever a category or prize for most scratched car.  Ensure that the scratches are dealt with appropriately before the car show.  This will help improve your winning chances and the judges are much more likely to pay attention to how your car really looks, rather than their eyes wondering over to the scratches that you left in place.

Your tires are important as well.  You may not realize it, but this says a lot about the way you maintain your car.  They are looking for simply the best; judges are not going to appreciate seeing a year’s supply of mud caked up underneath the wheel well.  They are impressed by immaculately clean cars, not those that need a through detail cleaning.

Some other areas to look at include paint, this may seem strange but the judges usually like to see something that is unique and creative.  Just because your car was originally the same red color as the other 1 million cars that rolled off the assembly line, looking just like it does not mean it needs to stay red.  Sometimes a new shade or even a completely different color can make a normal and boring car quite unique.  If you have the personality for it a creative paint job can make your car especially memorable.  After all, how many black, blue and red cars do you think the judges will see?  How many do you think they will see that are lime green or even hot pink?  Choose paint color carefully but look for something that is going to be memorable in a good way.

A final area to look at is the overall feeling of the car.  You generally would not take a 1930’s Chevrolet and trick it out with rims, televisions and tons of other high tech goodies.  However, at the same time, you should look for a few modern touches to make the car unique and enjoyable.  Unless you are just trying to obtain the most unique award, try to keep your car styled around the same as it was originally just better if possible.

Ensuring that your car creates a memorable and positive impression on the judges is not always easy.  After you participate in a few car shows, you should start to gain a good bit of ideas on what exactly the judges are looking for and ensure that you are fitting into their needs and wants.  With some practice, you are sure to enjoy the sweet success of winning a few trophies or even a ribbon or two.

What Can You Do at Car Shows?

Have you ever wondered exactly what you can do with your car while you are at a car show?  Aside from the obvious of staging your car perfectly there are some things that you can do to help pass the time, or even help share your love of cars with the different people who are there. From simple things to those that are more elaborate if you talk to the coordinators of the show you can usually have a lot of fun and do more than stand beside your car talking to the occasional visitor.

There are many car shows that would love to have someone doing detail cleaning, or a bit of light bodywork, or even some minor engine work to show visitors what goes into the car.  If you are skilled in any of these areas, you could volunteer to demonstrate these skills and help teach the visitors a few things.  This is something that you can that is very inexpensive, allows you to continue working on your car that weekend and still enables you to share your love of the vehicles.

Other things that you think about doing is bring along a television and VCR and perhaps show a video of you doing some work to the vehicle that you brought.  This would enable people to see how far the vehicle has come and what type of work was put into it in order to get it ready to go to the car show.  Realize that most people have no clue what it really involves to get a car ready for the show.  They generally think that all you do is roll out of bed the day of the show and decide to go.

You could also consider having plenty of pictures and a small table that you set up to depict the work process.  This would be a great way to also allow people to see the process and without the hassles of needing an inverter or electricity for the television.  You would be surprised how much small details like this can really encourage people to spend time by your car.  

Additionally, if you are willing to talk about the history of your car and how you have worked on it this is another great way to share experiences.  Not all people at car shows are willing to talk about the work they have done on their car, if you choose to share you are in the minority.  What their reasons are tends to vary, but for the most part there are few who will openly discuss their work.  Feel free to talk about it and share your experiences.  You may help inspire someone to start getting involved with their own vehicle.  

You should be very careful though and always discuss your plans with the car show coordinators to ensure that there will be no safety concerns.  Additionally, some car shows do not allow demonstrations because they feel that they are distracting or pose large liability risks.  As long as you have received the okay from the event coordinators feel free to have some fun sharing your love of cars and showing off your skills as well as your gorgeous car.  Just always ensure that you are making sure everyone is safe first, so leave the welder and other dangerous equipment at home.

Using a GPS to Find the Car Show

How are you supposed to ensure that you do not possibly get lost on the way to the car show?  Aside from asking plenty of questions about location before the show, you can always use the newest gadgets on the market the GPS to help you locate the exact location.  Some GPS devices are updated continuously, which will allow you to search for areas of interest, and under this category you may discover that the car show you are looking for is located.

Otherwise, you may need to type in the address you are looking for.  While the GPS device seems expensive they are really quite convenient, and for those who are attending tons of car shows they can be a great investment.  After all, how many times have you driven around aimlessly while you search for the elusive event?  Most people experience this quite often, especially when they are trying to determine a location in an area that they are not familiar with.

You are certainly not alone in getting lost, and you probably will be lost numerous times trying to search for different shows.  It is especially important that you be on time for the car shows if you are one of the exhibitors.  Most car shows do not take kindly to people showing up late, this can be a dangerous and especially stressful situation.   Using the GPS system to your advantage can help you ensure that you are always at the correct place, at the correct time. 

Not all shows are able or willing to give detailed directions on how to get to the car show; this often leaves you stranded at the last minute trying to find where you are supposed to be, especially when you are expected to attend early and set things up for your car.  If you do not use a GPS, it would be advisable to print out directions using an online service such as Yahoo! Maps, or even MapQuest to help you ensure that you are going to the correct destination.

In addition, try to drive by the location for the car show in advance if it is in an area that you are not familiar with, this will help you to ensure that you are well on your way to being there on time, and fully prepared for everything.  Failing to be to the show in advance can result in your vehicle being disqualified from the competition, or worse yet you not being able to participate at all.  These are never good results and if you are well aware of where you are going in advance, you can help avoid these problems.

In the event that you are not able to drive by the location in advance it is also wise to check for a phone number of someone in charge of the event, this will allow you to easily call someone in the event of an emergency and ensure that your place is still being held.  

After all, accidents and emergencies do occur and you do not want to lose your position for any reason.  Using the tools that are available to you can help ensure that you are on time and fully prepared for any car show no matter where it is located.  So kick back, enjoy the trip and have a lot of fun at the show knowing you will not be late. 

Tips for International Car Shows

Attending international car shows can be a thrilling experience. Regardless of whether you are planning to take your family or even your own car to the show there are some things that you should think about ahead of time. Always planning ahead can ensure that you are well on your way to being fully prepared and ensure that your visit to the car show is the best possible.  Never leave things to the last minute to plan a trip if you are going to an international car show.

Your first step is to always ensure you know exactly the dates of the car show.  You never want to arrange the trip on the wrong weekend or at the wrong period of time.  This can be a huge and costly mistake that is not always easily fixable.  Double and triple check those dates to ensure you know exactly when they are, and also determine exactly which of those days you plan on attending.  

Once you have confirmed all of the dates for the car show start looking at accommodations.  Pick out your hotel rooms early and ensure that they are booked well in advance for the best rates.  Waiting until the last minute can force you to pay as much as double for the rooms that you would normally pay which is a huge increase and not something that is unavoidable.  Additionally, determine if you are going to need transportation for the car show.  After all, if you are taking a car to show, you may not want to drive it around the area where the show is.  If you are not taking a car, you probably will not be taking a car.  

Once you have your accommodations arranged and the dates picked out it is time to start handling transportation.  If you are merely going to view the cars this is much simpler.  Either purchase a boat ticket and take a cruise at the same time, or purchase a plane ticket.  If however, you are planning to take your car you need to spend some serious time planning this.  You are going to need to find out about shipping your car, ensure that you have all inspections for the vehicle done on time, ensure you have adequate insurance coverage for the vehicle in case it is lost, stolen or damaged while in transit and even ensure that there will be efficient transportation for the vehicle. This is not a simple task at all and can be quite a nightmare trying to arrange at times.  Start in advance to ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible. 

Some of the other considerations is you need to find out about admission.  Regardless of whether you are taking a vehicle or not it is important to ensure that you know you will be able to get in.  For example, if the show is by invitation only, you may be upset to discover you made all of the arrangements and are not able to get into the show.  This can be a huge disaster, so always ensure that you know exactly what is expected in order to get admission to the show once you arrive.  Call to check with the planning organization well ahead of the car show to ensure that you have the best results possible with this.

As you can see, a bit of preplanning is all it takes in order to ensure that your trip to an international car show is as smooth a process as possible.  Never worry about the show being a disaster, with a good bit of planning you are certain to really enjoy the entire international car show experience.  Never have any worries, with good planning skills you are more than certain to thoroughly enjoy the show and be quite excited about all of the prospects that the show can hold for you.  There are so many exciting things at the international car shows and it is a spectacular feeling to attend.

Taking Your Pet to the Car Show

The day and age where pets are considered members of the family are upon us, and as such the number of people taking their pets everywhere with them is steadily rising.  If you are one of these people, you probably know that not everywhere is welcoming to your pet, but there are others that are more than graciously welcoming to your pet as long as you take the time to plan ahead and ensure that your pet is taken care of.  You may be surprised with some planning how well your pet fits into your plans and how well you are able to ensure the process goes.

If you are wanting to take a pet of course, your first step should always be calling ahead to the organization that is planning the car show and finding out if they are willing to allow pets.  If the event is held indoors then you are likely to find that they are unable to allow pets to come in.  However, most car shows that are outdoors, especially in recent years are more than willing to accommodate your favorite pet as long as you are willing to be responsible for them.

Once you know that the car show will allow your pet you need to ensure that they are healthy before you go.  This is especially important if you have a very young or very old dog.  It is also important to ensure that they have had their vaccinations; this will prevent them from catching anything that may be floating around from other dogs.  Even while your pet may be disease free, the vaccinations are important to ensure that they do not catch anything from other pets attending the show.

Additional measures include ensuring that your dog has a well fitting leash as well as a harness or collar.  If you are taking a very small dog, it is a wise idea to look for a harness that would allow you to quickly pick them up if the crowds get too heavy and there is a danger of someone stepping on your dog.  A good harness will allow you to swoop the dog up in a matter of moments without causing any harm.  

You should also bring a small water bottle for your dog.  There may not be a suitable place that will allow your pet to get some water, so the water bottle is essential.  Most pet supply stores sell water bottles that have small trays that attach to them; this makes it very easy to quickly and easily give your dog some water without having to find a container or a dish to put it in.  You can usually find water that will allow you to easily refill the water bottle, but finding a container for the water is not always simple.  

Another consideration that you need to take into account is ensuring that your dog will have access to shade and shelter during the car show.  Most dogs are not capable of staying out in the hot sun all day, and will need to have shade at least for short periods of time to ensure that they do not become overheated and dehydrated.  You are also going to have to make some arrangements for the dog to eat.  Most car shows are not going to have dog food readily available to visitors; this is going to require you to find some food that you can easily transport with you.  There are several small collapsible food bowls that you can buy at the pet store that are perfect for these occasions as well.

Making some arrangements ahead of time, there are plenty of ways that your pet can enjoy going to the car show with you.  There is no reason at all why your pet cannot accompany you if you are willing to take the time to plan ahead for your pet.  Going with your pet to a car show is lots of fun, but not planning and having a disaster on your hands is never fun. 

Staying Safe at Car Shows

There are tons of car shows, and at all of these car shows there are usually tons of people. Ensuring that you stay safe is a necessary task to ensure that you are able to always enjoy the car shows, rather than being forced to wait around for the police or take a trip to the hospital.  From crime to health problems, you need to be aware of some simple safety measures to make sure you leave without problems, and have a great positive experience.

Your first step should be avoid taking purses unless necessary.  There are so many people in a small area that taking a purse is rather foolish.  This can encourage the purse snatchers who are able to blend into the crowd easily.  Instead, take just a small wallet that fits into your front pocket and limit the amount of cash you carry on you.  Additionally, make sure you leave most of your credit cards at home, or in the hotel.  Limit the amount of personal information you are bringing with you as well to reduce the risks.

Always carefully check out the weather during the car show as well.  In addition to this information find out if the show is inside or outside and make appropriate clothing choices.  If the weather is scheduled to be in the 80’s do not wear thick pants, heavy shirts and a huge winter parka.  This is just asking for trouble and can leave you having a heat stroke.  You need clothing that is appropriate based upon the weather, rather than based upon what you think the weather will be.  This may mean wearing layers of clothing to ensure that you do not get cold, or overheat.

You should also ensure that you find out if there will be drinks and food available at the car show.  Not all car shows have food and drinks and it is very important to ensure that you stay hydrated and do not lose all of your energy.  Allowing yourself to become dehydrated is a huge problem and can leave you with no energy, or worse you could pass out.  Neither situation is a good idea and with plenty of drinks is avoidable.  If the car show does not have drinks there, make sure you bring plenty with you. 

You should bring a cellular phone with you as well.  At a bare minimum, bring some change for the telephone.  Without these items, you could be stranded in the event of an emergency with no way to call for help.  Having a working phone ensures that when a problem occurs you can quickly call for help and ensure that you will be able to reach someone.  It is also useful in the event that you need to contact someone and ask for a ride, or just try to get in touch with anyone else.

Your final consideration should be shoes.  It is not a wise decision to swear huge high heels to a car show.  The terrain is usually a bit uneven and the ground is usually grassy or rocky.  This can spell disaster in the wrong shoes.  Wear something that is comfortable and secure that you will not easily lose.  You should also ensure that you have something that is weather appropriate, for example no sandals in the winter.  Planning ahead will keep you safe during all of the car shows you attend. 

Should You Take an Unfinished Car to a Show?

Have you ever wondered exactly why someone would take a car that is unfinished to a car show?  Often the goal is not so much to win a prize, but rather to show off a car that is in progress.  This is especially common for the exotic and rare cars that are not always easily seen at car shows.  Many people pull out their cars at least once they have completed the bodywork but before the interior and the painting have been done.  You may wonder why this occurs, and you may be wondering if you should pull out your uncompleted car as well.

Generally, most people pull out their works in progress when they are not interested in an award.  They are simply interested in showing off their car and letting people see what it looks like during the restoration process. There are times when people who are attending car shows have no clue at all what it takes for a car to be restored and presentable during the car shows.  Seeing a car that is in progress is often a great experience for people and can allow them to see that creating the masterpieces that are generally on display is not really a simple task as they may believe.

Most people do not realize just how much time, effort, money or labor goes into restoring an old car.  Some cars obviously take more work than others do but all cars will need at least a small amount of work done to restore them to original condition or better.  There are some people who pull out their unfinished car for the car shows and then work on them a bit at the show.  This is a great way to see first hand what part of the process involves.  Granted it is only a very small portion of the overall process but it is a wonderful learning experience.  

If you are considering pulling out your partially completed car, you need to ensure that you talk to the organizers and ensure that they will have no problems with it.  Some organizations are not allowed to have partially completed cars on the lot depending on the event insurance that they have in place.  Checking with the organizers first will ensure that you avoid all potential problems before the show itself. 

If you do bring your uncompleted car, it is a wise decision to avoid doing any work on the engine during the show.  It would be very easy to lose engine components that you need and with large crowds of people missing parts can become a huge problem quickly if something is accidently kicked away from the car or otherwise lost.  Always ensure that you are working on something that is quite simple, additionally, if you are working on your car during the show you should be ready to answer plenty of questions that people have.

Most people who attend a car show are going to be thoroughly interested in asking you a ton of questions about what you are doing and why.  This is normal and often having a bit of information already in mind can help you to answer the questions you get without having to stop and think of each answer.  If you take some time and carefully plan some activities, it can be a great way to help educate people stopping by your car. 

One consideration is if you offer a specific car service, you should work on that while at the show.  For example, if you offer car detailing then you should consider working on detailing the car during the show.  This would allow perspective customers to see what you are capable of doing and the quality of your work all at once.  Making sure you have some business cards to hand out is another good move that can help make you memorable.  Just ensure if you are advertising a business or service that you are offering that you present yourself as a professional during the show.

Should You Buy a Car at a Car Show?

So you woke up and decided to attend the car show that was scheduled for the weekend. You walk in and start looking at all of the gorgeous cars that are present. You suddenly are hit by the urge to own one yourself. You happen to spot a particularly gorgeous car that looks simply stunning and just joke with the owner and ask if they would sell. They actually answer with a price they would like. What are you ever supposed to do?

Part of you hoped they would say no to selling, and part of you is jumping up and down inside thrilled at the idea of buying the magnificent car. But is this truly a wise decision to make? Is buying a car from a car show really a wise investment? Should you walk away and calm down, or should you pull out your checkbook immediately? Your inner child is probably screaming to buy the car, but do you even know what the car is worth?

You should avoid buying a car at a car show unless you have had some time to carefully shop around and see how much the vehicle that you are interested in would be worth. If you already have extensive knowledge about cars this may not be as large of a task, but for those who have no experience with these magnificent cars it can be a large amount of homework.

Additionally, during a car show the owner is not going to have much time to discuss specifics of the car with you. This is simply the result of having so many people around their car that they are watching. They most certainly do not want someone to cause damage to the car, and they definitely do not want someone to mess with the engine. While they may be talking to you about the car, they are probably only half-paying attention.

Additionally, during a car show you are unable to take the vehicle on a test drive simply because most car shows are not designed to allow the cars to move once they have been parked in their assigned place. In addition, there are typically large groups of people at car shows that make it dangerous trying to drive through the crowds and can really create some harsh problems if you are not careful.

If you truly find a car that you are madly in love with and determined to buy, and find an owner who is serious about selling you should ask for the sale price of the car, and also the owners contact information. Tell them that you will be in touch after the show. This will allow you to calm down and think rationally, as well as the opportunity to do a bit of research on the price the car is worth compared to what the owner is asking. Typically, you should wait at least a day or two after the car show before contacting the buyer so you have ample time to do research.

Once you meet up with the buyer you should take the car for a test drive and look over it very closely. Also ask about the engine and transmission. Many cars that are in shows are not original parts; they are often custom created cars that pull parts from various other cars to create what is before your eyes. If you are fine with this then it is perfectly acceptable, but you should be well aware of it before you buy the car. Other considerations are the overall condition of the vehicle, and the age.

You should possibly take another day or two to consider the purchase once you have taken a test drive. Remember, this is a car; it is not a CD or even a television that is fairly cheap. These vehicles are very expensive and the maintenance and repair costs can also be quite large. If you take the time to do some careful research and make a good decision about purchasing the car after the show it can be a great experience. Just avoid buying the car during the show unless you are absolutely certain that the car is spectacular and the deal is incredible.