Red Cross releases advisory, reminding families to practice safe home heating this winter
(WCIV) — Dropping temperatures across the state have prompted the American Red Cross to release their annual advisory, reminding families to ensure they are heating their home safely this Winter.
According to the organization, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in the U.S., and home fires account for most of the over 60,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to each year. They also state that responses are 30% higher during cold months, and in South Carolina, home fires have increased by almost 30% since Nov. 1 compared to last year.
“Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Susan Everitt, Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross in South Carolina. “But there are steps people can take to avoid having this happen to them. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires.
In an attempt to change that statistic, the Red Cross recommends adhering to the followings tips:
- If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.
- Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets, never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
In addition to following the above tips, the Red Cross recommends testing the smoke alarms inside a home monthly, and practicing a home escape plan in the event a fire should break out.
