01/20/2024
With the cold weather settling in, our Safety Coordinator wanted to share some safety tips about space heaters with you, our members. These tips may be small, but they can make a big difference!
Heating equipment, such as space heaters, kerosene heaters, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Follow these safety tips to use space heaters safely:
- Read all instructions and use space heaters only as recommended.
- Do not leave space heaters unattended.
- Plug them directly into an outlet; most power strips and extension cords are not equipped to handle the energy spikes caused by space heaters cycling on and off.
- Unplug any other items from the outlet you are using and try to use a dedicated circuit to avoid overload.
- Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Turn the heaters off before you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Do not use heaters that are in disrepair or have frayed cords or damaged plugs.
- Place them on flat, level surfaces and never on furniture, counters or carpet, which can overheat.
- Unplug and put space heaters away (out of the reach of children) when not in use.