Safety precautions key in cold weather

Fires, carbon monoxide hazards of heating.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers to take safety precautions while keeping their homes warm this winter. Here are some tips provided through the Allegan County Health Department.

Two hazards of special concern are fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, which have been linked to home heating equipment used during the colder winter months, including space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces. 

Portable Heaters: TheCPSC estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, are involved in an average of 1,600 fires per year, resulting in an average of 70 deaths and 160 injuries annually from 2019 to 2021.

Portable heaters can cause fires if they are placed too close to combustible materials such as drapes, furniture or bedding, so make sure to place them at least three feet away from these materials.

Other heat sources

Furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys: Have a professional inspect all fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents each year. Fireplaces can cause fires if the chimney is cracked, blocked or coated with creosote, or if sparks and embers reach flammable materials.

Generators: A gasoline-powered generator used during winter weather-related power outages can produce as much CO as hundreds of cars. The CPSC estimates that from 2012-2022, about 750 people died from CO poisoning associated with generators. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage.