Tuesday, December 10, 2019

By John Voket The cold winter months are the perfect time to cozy up in front of a fire, or stoke up the home heat. However, nearly 900 people die in home fires each year during the winter season, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, and 30 percent of all home fires and nearly four-in-ten home fire deaths take place from December through February. 

So to prevent tragedy and enhance everyone's safety through the holidays and into the New Year, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has reached out with numerous safety tips to prevent household fires and accidents caused by improper cooking and heating practices.  

Heating Safety

- Have your heating system inspected annually by a qualified professional.

- Keep space heaters out of high-traffic and exit areas, and at least three feet from anything that can burn.

- Do not leave a space heater running unattended. Turn off and unplug when you leave the room or go to sleep.

- Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.

- Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on top of furniture.

- Never leave an open flame, including the fireplace, unattended.

- Have a qualified professional install heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

Cooking Safety

- Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling.

- Keep children at least three feet away from cooking appliances.

- Wear short or close-fitting sleeves.

- Make sure your stovetop and oven are clean and free of grease and dust.

- Keep the cooking area clear of combustibles, such as towels, napkins, and potholders.

- To protect from spills and burns, use the back burners and turn the pot handles in.

- Locate all appliances away from the sink.

- Plug countertop appliances into ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets.

- Unplug the toaster and other countertop appliances when not in use.

- Keep appliance cords away from hot surfaces.

- Turn off all appliances when cooking is completed.

- It’s easy to forget about something that’s cooking, especially when you’re entertaining guests.

Finally, on average, 260 home fires in the U.S. start with Christmas trees each year. So if you put up a real tree, make sure you water it daily — a dried-up pine tree is nothing but kindling. 

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