Healthy Families wants to present our community with information on heating safety as temperatures drop. During the colder months, there are heat-related risks like fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other health hazards. Heating safety is paramount for young children who may get hurt if the proper precautions are not taken.

If you plan to use a space heater, make sure to keep any fabrics or flammable items at least 3 feet away from the heater to lower the risk of a fire in your home. Always plug your space heater directly into an outlet in the wall, as power strips and extension cords are likely to overheat and cause a fire. When using space heaters and kerosene heaters, make sure that they have an automatic shut-off when tipped over. This is important for homes with children or pets that are likely to bump into the heater. Refueling of kerosene heaters should always take place outside when the heater has cooled to avoid pollutants in your home.

Fireplaces are likely to have embers or sparks that escape, so placing a screen in front of the fireplace is important in preventing a fire. Make sure to extinguish the fireplace each time you leave the house and place ashes in a metal container at least 10 feet from your home. If you heat your home with a wood stove or fireplace, do not burn paper in them, put the fire out before you leave, and make sure to have your chimney inspected and cleaned yearly. Furnaces should also be inspected on a yearly basis.

If you have any concerns about fire safety in your home, contact your local fire department for advice and assistance. Here, you can find the contact information for each fire department in Indiana: https://ivfa.org/directory/. To protect yourself and your loved ones, staying vigilant about heating safety is crucial. We hope you stay warm this holiday season, but do it safely!