15 LIFE-SAVING WINTER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Fires lead to hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries annually. We must keep our families and our homes safe from fires.

1. INSPECT HEATING APPLIANCES: 

This is the time of the year that people purchase electric heaters to keep their homes warm. Electric heaters make rooms toasty and warm for the people in them, but they are also major winter fire hazards if you don’t inspect them or if you leave them unattended. When you buy an electric heater, make sure that it is a heater approved by the Underwriter Laboratories or UL. UL is an organization known around the world that certifies products for safety. It’s also best to plug electric heaters into wall outlets and not into extension cords.

2. USE ELECTRIC HEATERS WITH TIP-SHUTOFF FEATURE: 

Look for a heater that will shut off automatically when it tips over. Heaters with this tipping shut-off feature are the best choice for your home if the heater tips over when no one is around. Without power, the appliance’s heated parts are less of a threat to furniture, rugs, or other appliances near it if it falls.

3. ATTEND TO POWERED HEAT SOURCES: 

You should never leave electric heaters or open flames unattended in a room. Not only will you save money, but you will also keep your home safe by powering down your heat sources when you are away. Stay aware of when you’re using these appliances to reduce the risk of accidents from happening.

4. ATTEND TO COOKING: 

Hot stoves and smoke can ignite objects in your kitchen or set off smoke detectors if you leave them on and forget them. Make sure to stay in the kitchen while your stove is on and turn it off before leaving. Always double-check that you have turned off your stove or oven before heading to bed.

5. INSPECT FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS: 

Before you begin using your fireplace, look around it to check for both soot and creosote. Creosote is from previous fires, and it ignites easily, so you want to clear the area around your fireplace of any residue of earlier fires that can be hazardous. To make sure your chimney is safe, look for soot on the walls near where the chimney is in your home. If there is an outline of soot that follows your chimney, it could mean that you are in need of repairs from a leak. Inspect and keep your chimney clean to make it a safe and cozy feature, and to prevent devastating chimney fires.

6. VENTILATE ROOMS

Fires aren’t the only danger electric heating appliances bring into the home. There is also the danger of carbon monoxide, smoke, or other harmful gases lingering that cause health issues or even death. To prevent the presence and build-up of these gases, make sure that the rooms in your house are well-ventilated. Allow clean air to travel through your home. Though it is cold outside, you should find a way to let fresh air into your home every so often to help replenish the air.

7. INSPECT SMOKE DETECTORS: 

Red Cross estimates the fire death rate for houses with smoke alarms is 51% less than other houses without working smoke alarms. Now is the time to make sure that your smoke detectors are fully functional. These alarms will alert you and give you time to escape your house if necessary or alert you if something in your home is causing smoke and can start a fire. It’s important to inspect your smoke detectors and make sure they always have proper batteries and are functioning correctly.

8. INSPECT CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS:

If you don’t have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, think about installing some. Since carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas, there is no way that you can detect its presence with your senses alone. Carbon monoxide detectors will alert you about the presence of the gas in your home. It will allow you and your family to evacuate your home safely and can save your lives.

9. KEEP THE NEAREST FIRE HYDRANT CLEAR OF ICE:

Your neighbors or the buildings around you may need help from your local fire department to put out a fire. You can help your fire department act quickly in case of an emergency by ensuring the nearest fire hydrant is accessible. Hydrants that need thawing will slow down how fast the fire department can extinguish a fire if they need access to it. Be sure never to park your car or put anything in front of the access of a fire hydrant. This could land you a ticket, as well as jeopardize your safety and the safety of others.

10. CHECK BATTERIES AND POWER SOURCES: 

You can keep your home safe by making sure that you replace the batteries for anything that is battery powered in your home. These could be smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, flashlights, or even batteries for household appliances.

11. USE NEW AND FUNCTIONING EXTENSION CORDS: 

Old extension cords and wires are winter fire hazards. Cords that don’t supply enough power or that have frayed parts can spark and ignite fires in your home unexpectedly. You can replace any damaged or frayed cords in your home with new ones to reduce the risk of them sparking or igniting.

12. DO NOT RUN CABLES UNDER FURNITURE: 

Another step to take with the cables in your house is to ensure that they are not running under or near furniture that can catch fire. You want cables to steer clear from anything that they could ignite if they cause sparks. Also, make sure that wires are kept away from rugs.

13. KEEP CHRISTMAS TREES AWAY FROM FIREPLACES AND CANDLES: 

You can protect your family by keeping the Christmas tree away from anything that might burn the branches and ferns. Position your tree several feet away from your fireplace and make sure that there aren’t any lit candles near it.

14. USE FLASHLIGHTS INSTEAD OF CANDLES DURING A BLACKOUT: 

Though candles might be an immediate light source, it’s always best to use a flashlight instead of candles to light your way. Candles are an open flame that can burn objects around you that you can’t see in the dark.

15. PUT CANDLES OUT: 

Since candles are an open flame, they can burn flammable materials near them, and this could lead to a larger fire in your home. To keep your home safe while you use candles, make sure to put out your candles after use. Never fall asleep with a candle lit or leave the room unattended until you fully extinguish the flame. You should also keep your candles away from objects in your home that can easily burn.