The Importance Of Safe Heating Practices In Winter

As temperatures continue to drop, home heating systems will work harder to keep residents of North Jefferson County Ambulance District warm this winter—but without the proper precautions, momentary comfort can become a serious safety risk. Implementing safe heating habits helps to reduce each household’s chances of starting a fire, suffering from carbon monoxide exposure, and a variety of other safety risks. 

There are a variety of heating tools available in our home and on the market—furnaces, fireplaces, electric blankets, space heaters—and just like every other kind of equipment or element of your home, they require regular maintenance, proper ventilation and mindful operation. Safe heating practices will not only protect your home and loved ones but also improve your methods of heating your home, providing a sustainable sense of reliability throughout the winter. 

How To Safely Heat Your Home In Winter

Keeping your home warm and comfortable during winter is crucial, but winter heating safety should always come first. You can effectively and safely heat your home and avoid the risk of starting a house fire by taking these steps:

• Plugging space heaters directly into a wall outlet

• Not leaving heating elements unattended

• Inspecting the heating systems in your home before temperatures drop

By following these easy-to-follow winter heating tips, the residents of North Jefferson County Ambulance District can enjoy a safe winter season and significantly minimize the risk of fire and carbon monoxide exposure. 

North Jefferson County Ambulance District’s Winter Heating Safety Checklist

While winter heating is an essential component of keeping yourself and your loved ones safe this winter, it’s also important to recognize the dangers it can pose if safety precautions aren’t followed. As a trusted resource for reliable safety tips for every season, North Jefferson County Ambulance District recommends utilizing this winter fire safety checklist to teach safe heating habits to the residents of our community this winter:

• Regularly Inspect Your Heating Systems: before winter begins, we recommend having your furnace, boilers, heat pumps, fireplaces and other internal heating systems inspected and serviced.

• Check and Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: ensure your first-line of defense against fires and carbon monoxide poisoning is working properly by testing all of your alarms and replacing their batteries regularly.

• Keep Flammable Items At A Mindful Distance: maintain at least a three-foot clearance around heating elements in your home like: space heaters, fireplaces, and portable heaters.

• Ensure Proper Ventilation: reduce the risk of carbon monoxide buildup by ensuring that all vents, flues and air returns are unobstructed. 

• Store Fuel Safely: keep all wood, kerosene, and any other combustible substance in your home in a safe, dry area far away from heat sources. 

• Prepare for Power Outages: having a plan in place can prevent dangerous acts of desperation. Establish an emergency plan and compile the necessary supplies, like heavy blankets, flashlights, and solar batteries.

Following the guidelines outlined in this checklist can help to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning this winter. NJCAD encourages homeowners to learn more about winter fire safety and to enjoy a warm and worry-free winter.

Learn More Winter Safety Tips At North Jefferson County Ambulance District

Winter can be beautiful, but it can also be dangerous when we’re not properly prepared for its challenges. North Jefferson County Ambulance District is committed to helping our residents stay safe and mindful of the dangers of the season by providing a comprehensive library of safety tips. For more information on how you and your family can stay safe in every season, please visit our safety tips library.