Fire Safety Blanket
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
I hope you have enjoyed some of the new products we brought from the Do It Best show into the store. Please visit www.happyhandyman.com and check them out. The following product I want to tell you about is called Over & Out. And it is a fire blanket.
We sell fire extinguishers. And they work great; however, they are heavy, and it might not be easy for anyone to lift them and pull the trigger. That’s why I was excited about Over & Out. It’s simple to use. It weighs about a pound, so it’s light. And you don’t need any expertise to use Over & Out. Over & Out has a grommet that you attach the product inside a cabinet door or on the wall. There will be two straps that hang down. If you have a fire, first, turnoff the stove. Then pull these straps on the blanket down to release the blanket. Then, drape the blanket over the pan or pot that has caught on fire. It will quickly snuff out the fire by removing the oxygen source. Now it will smoke, but that will stop as the pan cools. Give it about three minutes before you remove the blanket. I would take the pan outside to ventilate and not let it give your kitchen a smoky smell. Take the blanket outside to cool as well. When the blanket is cool, fold it back up using gloves for up to 10 uses.
I remember that my mom and dad had to have a kitchen remodel once after a kitchen fire. The flaming pot was taken to the sink and, of course, doused with water. Well, the drapes around the window caught fire, and then the fire really took off. Leaving the flaming pan or pot stationary and using the blanket is the safest.
So, where should you keep a fire blanket? Well, of course, the kitchen. But the second place of fire is the living room. You may have a real wood fireplace. Or many beautiful candles that decorate your area. Your garage is another potential fire hazard. Any place you have an open fireplace, whether indoors or outdoors. It would be a good idea to take on camping trips. You could extinguish your camping fire without using water. I would keep one on a boat. I saw a few boats catch on fire at Lake McQueeney.
Now I do carry a small fire extinguisher in our safety area next to the blankets, and it’s called Fire Stop. It only weighs 2 pounds, so even a child could hold and use it to extinguish a flame. If you can use a spray can, you can use Fire Stop. I carry this product because you don’t have to shake it to use it. After you use Fire Stop, clean the area with a damp cloth. There is no messy residue.
If you do have a small fire and then notice a lingering smoke smell, purchase an Air Sponge. Air Sponge is an odor neutralizer. Air Sponge comes in three sizes. The ½-pound container is good for a single room, but for a larger area, purchase a 1-pound container. And there is a 4 lb. Container for really large areas. To use an Air Sponge, all you have to do is open the top and place it where it will get airflow. If your odor is intense, when you open the container, take it and turn it upside down to put on the lid to expose 75% of the Air Sponge. It will shock the air and remove any offensive odor. Air Sponge is great for any odor. It might be smoke from a fire, burnt popcorn, fish odor, or any other cooking odors. It’s good to use in a vacation home that has been closed up for months and smells musty. Or if you have had a water leak and you smell mildew. Of course, treat the mildew, but Air Sponge can handle the odor. I have to tell you; Air Sponge is one of my favorite products. They have been around for about 40 years, that I know of, and they are still family-owned and operated.
Next week, I want you to save the article—I’m going to write a 2025 favorite things article. You can keep it tucked inside The Best of Johnnie Chuoke, Vol. 14. And if you haven’t gotten yours for Christmas gifts, we are ready to ship immediately.