WINTER SAFETY TIPS

Winter Home Safety Tips for a Healthy and Safe Home

With heating equipment of any kind especially portable and space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves, you need to be carful and use the proper maintenance procedures.  Here are some tips to help families and homeowners prevent accidents and injuries during the winter season.

Portable Space Heaters

·         Purchase electric space heaters that have the UL, ETL, CSA, mark of independent testing.

·         Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. This would include furniture, people, pets, and window treatments.

·         Turn off space heaters before you leave a room or when you go to sleep.

·         Never leave children or pets alone in a room with a portable space heater. 

·         Use kerosene heaters only when they are permitted by law.  Always use the recommended grade kerosene and never use an alternative fuel.  Kerosene heaters must be refilled outside.

·         Never use space heaters to dry clothing or any type of fabric.

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves

·         Burn only seasoned hardwood.  Never burn trash, cardboard, or Christmas Trees because these items will burn unevenly and may contain toxins, and increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.

·         Hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect the chimney each year for cracks, blockages, and leaks.  Always have them clean and repair it as needed.

·         Keep all people, pets and flammable objects away from fireplaces and wood stoves.  This would include bedding, clothes, furniture, pets, and so on. 

·         Open the flues before the fireplaces are lit.

·         Use sturdy screens or doors to keep the embers inside the fireplace.

·         You should install at least one smoke detector on every level in your home and nearby your sleeping areas.

·         Keep children away from working wood stoves and heaters to prevent burns.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Precautions:

Carbon monoxide is a very well known problem known as the “silent killer.”  This is because it is a colorless odorless and tasteless gas.  You are not going to be able to detect it without a CO detector.  It is caused by fuel burning heating equipment like furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters.  You should follow these guidelines to keep your home and family safe.

·         Install at least one CO alarm near sleeping areas.

·         Have a trained professional inspect, clean and give your homes central heating system a tune up. 

·         Keep gas appliances adjusted properly and service them at least once a year.

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

·         Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed space.

·         Portable electric generators must be used outside only.  Never use them indoors or in any closed area. 

Power Outage Precautions: Lighting Sources and Perishable Food

·         Have a good supply of batteries, flashlights, and portable radios.  Also stock up on your canned goods, manual can openers, bottled water and blankets.

·         Use flashlights instead of candles to prevent a possible fire hazard.

·         Run the water at a slow drip to help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting if the temperatures outside are below the freezing mark for a long period of time and your home has no heat source.

·         Place perishable food items outside in the snow or in an unheated building if the power goes out.  This will help to keep them from spoiling.