Hello Everyone!
Virginia just got it’s first real batch of snow this past weekend and this week isn’t going to get much warmer. It’s very important to make sure that seniors have the ability to keep warm and we know that a lot of people will be using space heaters. We learned some safety tips to consider when using space heaters and we want to share them with you.
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- Do not plug your space heater into power strips.
- A space heater has a high current flow that power strips cannot handle. Power strips can overheat and even catch fire due to the additional energy flow.
- Plug the space heater directly to a power outlet (with nothing else sharing the outlet).
- It is much safer to plug the space heater directly to a power outlet. However, you shouldn’t plug anything else into the same outlet.
- Make sure there isn’t anything near the space heater that can burn.
- You should keep a 3 ft distance between the space heater and anything that could catch on fire.
- Only use the space heater on flat and level surfaces. You should not put them on furniture or carpet. These can overheat and catch fire.
- Never leave a space heater unattended
- One of the common traits most house fires shared was that things were left unattended.
- You should always turn off a space heater and unplug it when you are not able to keep an eye on it (including when going to sleep).
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We hope that these tips can help out when you’re trying to keep warm. It can be difficult, especially when central heating may not be available, to keep warm. Space heaters can be a big help, but it’s important to follow proper safety guidelines.
This article has this information and more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-you-should-not-plug-space-heaters-into-power-strips-according-to-fire-departments/