Tips to Stay Safe With Space Heaters

Did you know that 80 percent of home heating fire deaths in the U.S. involve space heaters and that 32 percent of home heating fires are caused by space heaters? It is estimated that space heaters cause over 19,000 home fires, 360 deaths, and over 1,000 injuries a year.

Once a house fire starts it is only a matter minutes before it becomes life-threatening. By following a few safety steps when using space heaters you can avoid becoming a statistic.

• Space heaters should never be closer than 3 feet to upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses, bedding and other flammable material.
• Place the space heater on a hard, level and nonflammable surface
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters
• Never leave a space heater running when you are away from home.
• Plug space heaters directly into a grounded wall outlet without adapters or extension cords
• Choose a model with features like a built-in thermostat that shuts the heater off when the room temperature is met and a thermal cut out switch that shuts the heater off if it gets too hot.
• If you have kids or pets, a cool touch exterior can prevent accidental burns
• Ensure there is a working smoke detector on every level of the home and test them monthly