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In anticipation of snow and arctic air headed our way, the staff at the INTEGRIS Health Paul Silverstein Burn Center would like to pass along some safety tips for heating your home during extremely cold temperatures.

Generators

• Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent; fatal levels of carbon monoxide can be produced in just minutes, even if doors and windows are open.

Smoke Detectors

First, the most important aspect of home fire safety is making sure every home has a working smoke detector, and that these detectors are checked monthly with batteries being changed every six months or at daylight savings time in spring and fall. 

Carbon Monoxide Alarms are easy to install and can save lives. They do not take the place of smoke alarms; however, having one is the next step to a safe environment in the home. Any open flame heater creates carbon monoxide gas and if your home’s heating devices are not functioning properly, this gas can be deadly. The alarms are becoming more affordable, more effective and if you have a flame operated heating device in your home, indispensable.

Space Heaters

• Dust and lint may have accumulated in the space heater. Be sure to clean them thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner.
• Gas space heaters need to have the flame adjusted to blue in order to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build up.
• Caution children not to stand too close to a space heater to warm up, as their clothing could catch fire.
• Give space heaters their space! Be sure that all combustible material is away from the heater, at least three inches in all directions.

Floor Furnaces

• Floor furnaces are safest when they are equipped with a thermostat and automatic shut off device.
• Clean the floor furnace by removing the grate and using a vacuum to remove dust and lint from inside the unit.
• During the summer months, people often place throw rugs on the floor furnace. As the weather cools, they may remove these rugs and turn the furnace on. During the warm days following a cold snap, people often throw the rug back onto the furnace without turning the unit off. Then, when it becomes cold again, the floor furnace automatically comes back on igniting the throw rug. Be sure to remove rugs whenever the unit is switched on.

Central Heaters

• Clean or replace the furnace filter.
• Clean the entire furnace area using a vacuum to remove dust and lint.
• Be sure to remove any brooms, boxes, magazines, newspapers or any other combustible material stored in the heater closet.

Fireplaces

• Inspect the fireplace and chimney at least once a year. Look for cracks in the firebox, flue and chimney. Also check for build-up of soot and creosote inside the flue.
• Open the damper enough to allow the smoke and gases to escape up the chimney.
• Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid.
• Always keep a good-quality metal fireplace screen in front of the fireplace whenever it is being used to prevent burning logs from rolling out or embers from flying out.
• Keep a three-foot area in front of and to the sides of the fireplace clear of any combustibles including, logs, kindling wood, paper, rugs, clothing or furniture.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving your home or going to bed.
• Never burn charcoal in a fireplace. Charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide gas that can fill a room and overcome the occupants.
• Never cook in a fireplace. Grease from the food can build up inside the flue and catch fire.
• Never burn more than two or three natural logs at one time.
• Artificial logs made of compressed sawdust and wax should be handled differently from natural logs because they generate more heat. Burn only one artificial log at a time and do not burn an artificial log with natural logs.
• Always make sure fireplace ashes are placed in a metal container. Never place hot embers in a combustible container such as a trashcan. Allow ashes to cool thoroughly before disposing of them.

Kitchen

• Kitchen pan handle safety – keep handles turned away so a kiddo can’t reach up and grab it or cook on back burners instead.
• Microwave safety – use caution when removing hot liquids, especially for pediatrics when microwaves are mounted high or above stovetops.
• Hot water safety – do not set your hot water heater higher than 120 degrees or just below the medium setting.  
• Never use a gas oven for heating your home.

There are many potential problems when heating our homes in winter weather, but with a little caution, we can all weather the storm.