Warm To These Ways To Be Both Safe And Comfortable

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

(NAPSA)—Heating equipment is the second-leading cause of homefires in the United States— more than 65,000 homefires are attributed to heating equipment each year—but a few simple steps can help you keep your home and family out of such statistics. Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of sup- plemental heat in cold weather; they can also increase the risks of fire or electric shock if not used properly. Problems can result when space heaters are without adequate safety features, placed It’s a hot idea to use a space heater properly to help keep your home and family safe and warm. Install smoke alarms on every too close to combustibles or improperly pluggedin. floor of your home,inside each bedroom and outside all sleeping areas. Test them monthly. International (ESFI) offer these least three feet away from any- To help, the experts at the Electrical Safety Foundation tips on staying safe and warm: Make sure your space heater has a label indicating that it has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory. Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully. Inspect the cord periodically for damage, such as cracked or broken plugs or loose connections. Don’t use a heater with a dam- aged cord. Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Don’t leave children or pets unattended in a room with a space heater. e Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should never be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes. Heaters must be kept at thing that can burn, including bedding, papers, clothing and rugs. Locate space heaters out of high-traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard. e Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Don’t use an extension cord or power strip or plug any other electrical devices into the sameoutlet as the heater. Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never put them on top of furniture. e Always unplug and safely store the heater whenit’s not in use. To help educate consumers about the importance of using space heaters properly, ESFI has a variety of tools and resources, including an animated space heater safety video on the Web at www.electrical-safety.org.

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