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 Stay Safe and Warm This Winter
Resources:
Energy Tip: “Take the school bus to school if you can, then less people will use gas.” - Quote from Danielle Garry of York Middle School in York. She is in 6th grade.
25 Safety Tips: (Heating your home safely this winter)
For those who burn firewood:
1. When installing a wood stove, make sure that there is proper clearance away from combustible materials.
2. Vent only into a chimney that has been inspected.
3. Woodstoves should not share a flue with other heating sources that burn dissimilar fuels.
4. Check the flue connections and condition of the chimney regularly during the heating season.
5. Use a metal container for ashes, wet ashes down to cool them thoroughly, and store them outdoors.
6. Do not burn unseasoned or ‘green’ wood. The build-up of creosote that this causes increases the risk of chimney fires.
7. Save your driest wood for starting or rejuvenating a fire.
8. Build a small fire with the driest pieces available – a small hot fire produces less creosote in the chimney when the wood being burned is not as dry as it should be.
9. If your wood stove has a blower to spread the heat over the floor, stack tomorrow’s wood in a criss-cross pile in this hot air, making sure the air can flow through the pile.
10. Save your largest sticks of wood for overnight fueling.
11. Make sure that both fireplaces and wood stoves have a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Special retaining screens can help keep children and pets away from wood stoves and prevent burns.
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For those who use space heaters:
12. Electric space heaters are not recommended, but if you must use one, make sure it is in good condition (no frayed, worn or broken cords – repair tape isn’t enough to prevent overheating and fire) and never use ordinary household extension cords with portable space heaters.
13. Make sure your space heater, whether electric or kerosene, is listed by an independent testing laboratory such as UL.
14. If purchasing an electric or kerosene space heater, get one with an automatic safety switch that will turn the unit off if it is tipped over.
15. Only use space heaters to heat the area you are currently occupying.
16. Many electric heaters draw 1500 watts or more, so make sure that the outlet you use can handle the load.
17. Make sure there is plenty of clearance (36 inches) between an electric heater and any combustible materials.
18. Avoid using electric space heaters if there are pets or children present.
19. Kerosene heaters should be well maintained, well vented and should never be used in areas where people sleep.
20. Make sure to use the proper fuel when using a kerosene heater. Use only crystal-clear K1 kerosene, never a yellow or contaminated kerosene or any other fuel; and make sure to fill it only outside.
21. If purchasing a kerosene heater get one with an automatic starter and a fuel gauge. This eliminates the need for matches, makes starting the unit safer and will help ensure that the heater is not dangerously overfilled.
22. A safety grill on the front of kerosene heaters can prevent accidental contact burns.
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For those who use a generator:
23. Make sure to use the proper kind of fuel.
24. Never use a generator indoors, even in an open garage.
25. Avoid fueling a generator when the unit has been running and the surfaces are hot.
Emergency Planning:
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In case of a fire:
• Make sure that all your smoke alarms are in working order and that they are tested at least monthly.
• If you can, install a residential sprinkler system.
• Practice home fire escape planning.
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In case of a power outage:
• Have plenty of flashlights and a battery powered radio.
• Have a supply of drinking water.
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Be a good neighbor:
• Check on the wellbeing of your neighbors, particularly if they are elderly or if they have physical limitations that may hinder their ability to care for themselves.
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Other safety precautions:
• Install Carbon Monoxide detectors and test them monthly.
Helpful Holiday Hints:
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Cooking Safety:
• Cooking appliances should be kept clean of grease build-up which can easily ignite.
• Applying a lid to a small grease fire is usually the safest and most effective way of controlling it.
• If there is a fire inside your oven turn off the heat and leave the door closed to cut off the fire’s air supply.
• The National Fire Protection Agency and the National Burn Foundation discourage the use of turkey fryers because of the risk of tipping over, overheating and spilling hot oil.
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Candle Safety:
• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles away from things that can catch fire including Christmas trees, curtains and decorations.
• Place candles on stable furniture in sturdy holders that won’t tip over and where children and pets can’t knock them over.
• Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get within two inches of the holder.
• Extinguish votive and filled candles before the last half inch of wax starts to melt.
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