BROKEN BOW – Weather is looking to take a colder approach as the holiday season nears, potentially leading to a surge in the use of space heaters and turning up the heat in your home.
The American Red Cross advises residents to exercise caution when using these devices, emphasizing the importance of placing them on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface. A good tip to keep in mind is to purchase a space heater that will automatically shut off if it tips over.
Also, it is crucial to avoid positioning space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding and drapes, and to keep children and animals at a safe distance from the heaters. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Use space heaters with caution around pets, because they can cause burns or they can be knocked over, potentially starting a fire.”
Always remember to turn off and unplug your safety heater when it is not in use or before you go to bed.
Also from the American Red Cross, “The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of these are home fires. In a typical year, home fires kill more people in the United States than all other natural disasters combined.”
Keep these heater safety tips and smoke alarm information in mind this holiday season when using any type of heating device.
The American Red Cross also has great information on smoke alarms, such as installing smoke alarms on every level of the home, testing your smoke alarms at least monthly, and replacing batteries in the smoke alarms.
It is recommended that smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside each bedroom. It is better to be safe than sorry and to ensure all members of your family make it out safely in the event of a fire. The National Fire Alarm Code requires hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup. When one alarm goes off, all will sound.
Remember to stay safe this holiday season and to watch space heaters closely.
