Be Careful With Space Heaters

January 2, 2008

With our extremely cold overnight temperatures, Escambia County Fire Rescue reminds everyone to be safe while staying warm and offers these safety tips involving heating equipment:

• Properly inspect all heating equipment before using it.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from all combustibles.
• Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances or other heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
• Only use heaters that have safety features such as cut-off switches that turn the heater off if they accidentally tip over and those units that have heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
• Never leave space heaters unattended, turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Make sure to keep children away from space heaters.
• Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
• When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
• If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
• Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
• Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel both explode easily.
• Keep the fire in the fireplace by making sure you have a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
• Heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater and never use them to dry clothes or other materials.
• Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
• Remember its always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
• In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.

If you need assistance in obtaining a smoke alarm for your residence, call the smoke alarm program at 595-HERO.




		




                        
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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News