Winter Safety Home Safety Tips for a Safe and Healthy Winter
Use the following tips to avoid potential dangers of home fires, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and power outages during the winter months:
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Precaution: Heating Systems and Gas Appliances
> Install at least one CO alarm to protect sleeping areas.
> Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up central heating system and repair leaks or other problems; fireplaces and woodstoves should also be inspected each year and cleaned or repaired as needed.
> Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
> Never use an oven or range to heat your home.
> Never use a gas grill inside your home or in a closed garage.
Home Fire Precautions: Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
> Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas
> Burn only wood- not trash, cardboard boxes, or Christmas trees because these items increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.
> Have a professional chimney sweep inspect the chimneys you use regularly every year for cracks, blockages and leaks and have them cleaned and repaired as needed.
> Keep all persons and flammable objects, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing and pets, at least 36 inches away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
> Open flues before fireplaces are used.
Portable Space Heaters
> Purchase electric space heaters that bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory, such as UL.
> Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.
> Supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use
> Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
> Never use space heaters to dry flammable items such as clothing or blankets.
> Keep all flammable objects at least three feet from space heaters.
Power Outage Precautions: Lighting Sources and Perishable Food
> Stock up on batteries, flashlights, portable radios, canned foods, manual can openers, bottled water and blankets.
> Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid a possible fire hazard.
> Run water at a trickle to help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting if outside temperatures are below freezing for an extended period of time and your home has no heat.
> Store perishable food outside in the snow or in an unheated outside building if power goes out. |
