Wise up to winter home safety tips
Stay safe while staying warm this winter.
Colder weather means cozying up indoors, sometimes near a space heater or fireplace. But are you heating your home safely? Check out these tips to stay safe and warm all winter long.
Space heaters
Space heaters are a good way to add a little extra heat to a room, as long as you use them safely. When plugging in your space heater, check to see if it has an anti-tip switch.
“The switch basically allows the space heater to shut off automatically if it were to be knocked over, preventing the risk of it starting a fire,” says Chris Vecchi, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator at Kettering Health Network.
Also make sure it’s in a place that’s clear of flammable items like furniture or curtains. Try keeping it in a space where you won’t bump into it or knock it into other combustibles to lower the risk of fires.
Fireplaces
If you have a fireplace, schedule a professional fireplace inspection, which detects build-up and issues with the flue system. Many people use do-it-yourself methods like chimney logs, but those are not enough to ensure safe operation.
“The logs can help remove creosote build-up, but if there’s an issue with the flue itself, you’re still not ensuring that the flue will exhaust the heat from the fireplace safely,” says Vecchi.
If you’re using a wood-burning fireplace, use screens to prevent embers from coming out of the fireplace.
Fire safety
Stay a step ahead of potential fires by checking the batteries in smoke detectors when you change your clocks during daylight saving time. Practicing what to do when the alarm sounds is also important, especially with children.
“I always recommend making it a game,” Vecchi says. “Practice crawling low underneath the smoke and using your escape plan. See if children can do it with their eyes closed so that if there’s limited visibility due to smoke, they still know their way out.”
Make sure you have at least one fire extinguisher in your home. If something catches fire and there’s any question in your ability to extinguish it safely, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Carbon monoxide
Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector. The odorless, colorless gas can come from anything that burns fuel, including natural gas, propane or even gasoline.
“A lot of people tend to think if they have all electric appliances, then there’s no risk of carbon monoxide,” Vecchi says. “A portable generator or a running vehicle in a closed garage could still pose a hazard.”
If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, go outside and call 911 from a safe place.
Make a plan
If you’re making an emergency preparedness plan, go online to ready.gov to find resources that can help.