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Space Heaters Need Their Space
Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Portable space heaters may be convenient and even help save energy in some cases, but they are also the leading cause of home fires during December, January and February and second only to cooking equipment as the cause of home fires year-round. Although space heaters were responsible for 32% of home heating fires in 2008, they were the most deadly, accounting for 82% of the fire deaths relating to home heating, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

One of the most common causes of space heater home fires is failure to give space heaters their space, by placing them too close to things that will burn and using the wrong fuel (in the case of kerosene heaters).

Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

A safe place for space heaters is a minimum of three feet away from anything burnable (furniture, drapes, papers etc.), away from children and pets, and out of doorways and exits. Space heaters should also be kept away from water sources like spigots, tubs and showers to avoid serious risk of electric shock.

Avoid using extension cords with space heaters. Plug electric-powered space heaters into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord, which can heat up and start a fire by igniting nearby combustibles.

Kerosene heaters need their space while operating and when being fueled. Fill kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated area away from heat sources and only when the heater is completely cooled. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer. Never use gasoline!

Even if you have placed your heater a safe distance from anything that can burn, always turn it off before you leave the house or go to sleep.

Looking for a new space heater? Purchase one that has a safety device that turns it off automatically if it is tipped over and also that bears the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

Check for product recalls at www.cpsc.gov.

Space heaters can be useful and convenient, but they need their space.

Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com

Images provided by www.google.com.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Smoke Alarms: Up, Down and All Around
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Statistics show that smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half, but only if they are working properly.

Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that many installed smoke detectors aren’t working, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Working smoke alarms should be used in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it should be replaced. In addition, the right type of smoke alarm should be used. Which is the right type?

Find out at the upcoming Fire Prevention Week Open House, on October 3rd, 2010, in Dublin, Ohio. Fire Marshal Alan Perkins will be offering presentations at Station 92 (4497 Hard Road) to demonstrate how the two main smoke alarms types work and under what conditions they are most likely to be activated, so you are made aware of the deadly smoke or fire before it overcomes you.

Having a working smoke alarm in your home is not a guarantee that it will sound. I can show you why and how to increase the likelihood of it responding. In addition to smoke alarm presentations, our open house event will feature several family-oriented activities and demonstrations at each of our four fire stations.

So join us in celebrating this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With,” by learning more about smoke alarms and fire safety on October 3rd from 1-4 p.m.

Keep your smoke alarms working by:

•    Testing them at least once a month using the test button, and making sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
•    Replacing the battery immediately if you hear it  “chirping,” an indicator that the battery is low.
•    Replacing them when they are 10 years old or sooner (if they don’t respond properly when tested). This includes hard-wired alarms also.
•    Never removing or disabling them.

Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Focus on Fireworks Safety
Monday, June 28th, 2010

Every year in the United States, we celebrate the Fourth of July with community parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks – the things of which happy memories are made. But sadly, Independence Day also includes tragic events resulting from fireworks use. The safest way to enjoy them is through public displays conducted by professional pyrotechnicians hired by communities. Learning fireworks safety tips can help ensure that everyone has a happy and safe summer holiday.

By the Numbers: Fireworks

* 30,100: Estimated number of fires caused by fireworks each year

* 7,000: Estimated number of injuries caused by fireworks in 2008

* 7: Fireworks-related deaths occurred in 2008

* $34: million Amount of direct property loss caused by fireworks

Sources: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Who is at Most Risk?

In 2008, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 7,000 people for fireworks-related injuries. 70% of these injuries occurred between June 20 – July 20. Of these:

* 46% of injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.
* 56% were burns, while 21% were contusions and lacerations.
* Two of 5 people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
* 62% of injuries were to males; 38% were to females.
* Devices such as sparklers, fountains, roman candles, and novelties accounted for 40% of injuries; firecrackers caused 18% of injuries.

DOWNLOAD:

2008 Fireworks Annual Report: Fireworks-Related Deaths, Emergency Department-Treated Injuries, and Enforcement Activities During 2008 (PDF, 300 Kb):http://www.cpsc.gov/library/2008fwreport.pdf

This report provides the results of the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff analysis of data on non-occupational fireworks-related deaths and injuries during 2008.

How and Why Do These Injuries Occur?

* Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are still accessible to the public. Distributors often sell fireworks near state borders, where laws prohibiting sales on either side of the border may differ.
* Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into peoples’ faces and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1,000°F); and firecrackers can injure the hands or face if they explode at close range.
* Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone leans over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person.
* Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.
* Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).
* Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous and unpredictable explosions.

Did You Know?

* 92% of the fireworks injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms involved fireworks that Federal regulations permit consumers to use.

* The tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees – this is hot enough to cause third degree burns.

What Can I Do?

* The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.

* Kids should never play with fireworks. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.

* Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.

* Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.

* Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.

Links:

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Fireworks Fact Sheet:
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/012.html

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: Fireworks-Related Injuries:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Fireworks/fireworks-factsheet.html

National Fire Protection Association: Fireworks
http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=297&cookie_test=1

For additional information, please download this PDF from USFA on Fireworks and Fire Safety: www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/…/jun_2010_fireworks.pdf

Article Credits: FEMA, U.S. Fire Administration

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


NFPA: Home Fires Account for 92 Percent of Structure Fire Deaths
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

According to a new National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study called Home Structure Fires, home fires account for 92 percent of fire deaths that occur in structures. These fires cause an average of 2,840 civilian deaths each year.

“This study strongly underscores the need to aggressively work to reduce the number of home fires in this country in order to save lives from fire,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA.

During the period of 2003-2007, U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 380,000 home fires a year. These fires not only caused a large number of civilian deaths, they also caused an average of 13,160 reported civilian fire injuries and $6.4 billion in direct property damage.

From 2003-2007, smoking materials caused the largest number of fire deaths. Heating equipment was the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths.

The leading cause of home structure fires, civilian fire injuries, and unreported fires continues to be cooking equipment. Forty-one percent of home fires started in the kitchen area and caused 15 percent of the home fire deaths and 36 percent of the reported fire injuries.

Other key findings include:

  • Reported home fires peaked around dinner hours of 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Only 20 percent of the reported home fires occurred between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., however 52 percent of home fire deaths resulted from fires reported during these hours.
  • Thirty percent of reported home structure fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occurred in the quarter including December, January, and February.
  • Reported apartment fires were more likely to start in the kitchen than fires in one- and two-family homes.
  • The two leading items first ignited in home fire deaths are upholstered furniture in 21 percent of home fire deaths, followed by mattress and bedding in 13 percent of the deaths.

Properly installed and maintained fire protection can prevent most fire deaths. Forty percent of fatal home fire injuries occurred in properties where no smoke alarms were present. Home fire sprinklers can also help, as the death rate per 1,000 reported home fires was 83 percent lower when wet pipe sprinkler systems were present, compared to reported home fires without automatic extinguishing equipment.

“Smoke alarms have been a key factor in significantly reducing the fire death problem since their widespread use beginning in the ‘70s,” Carli said. “The move to require home fire sprinklers in new homes will be the next step forward in fire protection.”

NFPA offers these safety tips to prevent home structure fires from occurring:

  • Keep anything that can catch fire—oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains—away from the stovetop.
  • Keep anything that can burn, such as paper, bedding, or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment and have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around stoves, open fires, and space heaters.
  • Remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Smoke alarm accessories are available for people who are hard of hearing. These accessories activate from the sound of traditional smoke alarms and produce a complex low frequency alarm signal, more effective at waking those with mild to severe hearing loss.

For the complete list of safety tips, visit www.nfpa.org/safetytips.

Article Credits: www.nfpa.org

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


2010 NFPA Conference and Expo
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

The 2010 NFPA Conference and Expo will take place June 7-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  The NFPA encourages professionals in fire protection, life safety, electrical, building design & management, fire service and loss prevention to attend the conference.  This year professional can choose from 11  different tracks and over 130 education sessions.

NFPA fire safety conference

In addition, NFPA is going green for the conference by posting handouts online prior to the event and distributing USB drives during the conference.  You can learn about other green initiatives by visiting the NFPA Conference Blog.

Early bird discounts are available until April 30 starting at $550. You can register for the conference online at the NFPA website. Don’t miss out on this great education event.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Total cost of fire up 86 percent from 1980
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a new report today, Total Cost of Fire in the United States, which finds that in 2007, after adjusting for inflation, the core total cost of fire has increased by 86 percent since 1980.

The complete total cost of fire for 2007 is estimated at $347 billion, making up approximately 2.5 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

The complete total cost of fire is defined as the sum of economic loss (e.g., property damage, business interruption), human loss (e.g., lives lost, medical treatment, pain and suffering), and the cost of provisions to prevent or mitigate the cost of fire (e.g., fire departments, insurance, and fire protection equipment and construction).

Other key findings from the report:

* Although the core total cost of fire increased, the economic loss due to fire decreased by 13 percent since 1980, totaling at $18.6 billion.
* The total cost of direct property damages, reported or unreported, totaled at $16.6 billion. This figure represents 90 percent of the economic loss. The other 10 percent represents indirect losses, such as business interruption.
* Human losses are estimated at $42.5 billion.

For fact sheets on the total cost of fire, please visit www.nfpa.org/research.

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Space Heater Safety Precautions
Friday, February 19th, 2010

Did you know that heating equipment is the leading cause of home fire deaths? During the winter months, it’s enjoyable to sit fireside and read a good book, but safety must be practiced. Furthermore, space Heaters can help you save on your heating costs, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges people to follow these safety precautions when using electric or fuel-fired heaters and fireplaces:

  • Buy a reliable heater. Look for the label stating that your space heater has been approved by an independent testing laboratory and meets safety standards. Choose models with safety features like an automatic switch that turns off the heater if it tips over.
  • Place your heater in a safe location – on a hard, level surface with sufficient ventilation and at least three feet away from anything that might catch fire, like furniture, draperies, newspapers, etc. Also, keep it clear of sinks, tubs, or any other sources of water that might lead to an electric shock.
  • Check your cords. Don’t use equipment with cords that are frayed or damaged in any way, and don’t plug your heater into an extension cord.
  • Install and maintain alarms. Your home should have working detectors for smoke and carbon monoxide on every floor. Test them thoroughly and frequently.
  • Never leave your heater unattended. Turn it off when you go to bed or leave the home.

Download a printable tip sheet on heating safety from the NFPA.

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


A Valentine’s Extreme Home Makeover with Home Fire Sprinklers and more!
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

This Sunday, February 14, 2010, ABC’s Extreme Makeover-Home Edition will feature a two-hour Valentine’s Makeover from 8:00-10:00pm featuring the installation of a fully sprinklered home and more!  Ty Pennington takes his team to Prince George’s County, Maryland where he’s going to help the Tripp family. Over the years they have helped the kids in the local community by running a bus service and offering activities, which they supervise to make sure they are kept safe in what is generally a rough area. Maryland based Livingston Fire Protection, fully sprinklered two properties, donating over three weeks of design, more than 500 hours of field installation, fabrication and trucking time, as well as many hours of dedicated employee’s time.

Recent Studies prove that sprinklers protect the environment.  According to the research and reports from a study performed in a collaborative effort of FM Global and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition they identified the following points:

“At a January 19, 2010 press conference at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas,  Christopher Wieczorek, PhD, a senior research specialist at FM Global, showed side-by-video of the rooms burning. Forty-four seconds after ignition, the single sprinkler head in the protected living room activated and began to fight the fire, while fire raged in the unprotected room. After five minutes, the fire in the sprinklered room continued to be contained, while in the unprotected room, every combustible item was burning.

After the test, FM Global compared the environmental impact of each fire, specifically:

  • the types, quantity and duration of air and water pollutants released from a home fire
  • water usage from fire sprinklers and firefighters’ hoses
  • the environmental impact resulting from burning household furnishings and finish materials as well as disposing the fire-damaged contents of a home
  • the carbon footprint associated with rebuilding a burnt home

Announcing the initial findings of the study, Dr. Wieczorek said that in the event of a home fire where sprinklers are present:

  • the release of greenhouse gases (CO2) are reduced by 99%
  • the amount of water usage is reduced by 50%
  • the amount of fire damage to the room is less than 3%, compared to a 100% loss in the unprotected room

Dr. Wieczorek added that the amount of materials burned by the fire that had to go into a landfill, and the amount of raw materials needed to rebuild after a fire were also reduced.”

NFPA, who is committed to the Fire sprinkler Initiative,  is doing all they can to bring a higher level of safety to our homes. According to their studies:

  • Roughly 84% of all civilian fire deaths in 2007 resulted from home structure fires.
  • If you have a reported fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by about 80% when sprinklers are present.

Sprinkler advocates across the country have asked for a coordinated effort to encourage the use of home fire sprinklers. NFPA has launched that effort through the “Fire Sprinkler Initiative®: Bringing Safety Home.” The initiative includes a variety of proven, effective ways that home fire sprinkler advocates can communicate the impact of sprinklers.

This Web site provides resources for the fire service and other sprinkler advocates who want to demonstrate the need for home fire sprinklers in their community. Tools and field resources available in the website help advocates talk with local elected officials and others about the life-saving impact of sprinklers.

In addition, the site contains information to help home fire sprinkler advocates navigate the legislative process to get sprinkler ordinances introduced and passed in their communities and allow them to come together to share their ideas, successes, and tools with other advocates across the country.

The Fire Sprinkler Initiative, in cooperation with many other interested individuals and organizations, encourages the use of home fire sprinklers through increased awareness and adoption of local ordinances or model codes.

For more information, please visit www.firesprinklerinitiative.org or www.nfpa.org for more information.

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Clothes Dryer Safety
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Numerous appliance products, if not properly installed, used and maintained, can become fire hazards. One appliance often overlooked in the home is the clothes dryer. According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2006, more than 16,000 home structure fires were caused by this appliance. And the leading cause of these fires was a lack of maintenance. Items such as clothing, dust, fiber, or lint, normally found in a dryer, accounted for 60% of the combustible materials first ignited in clothes dryer fires. To avoid a clothes dryer fire, follow these essential safety precautions:

  • Clean the lint filter in the dryer before or after each use because accumulated dust and lint can be a fire hazard. Do not operate the dryer without the filter. Also, remove accumulated lint around the drum.
  • Make sure that the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its electrical needs as overloaded electrical outlets can result in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
  • Verify that the exhaust vent pipe is not restricted by snow, leaves, or other materials and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
  • Do not leave the dryer running if you leave your home because, if it malfunctions, no one will be there to avert a possible disaster.
  • Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles such as boxes and clothing.
  • Never dry items that have come in contact with flammable substances such as cooking oil, gasoline, paint thinner or alcohol. Even after washing, clothing can still contain residues that can ignite.
  • Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.

It is important to keep dryers in good working order to avoid problems associated with lack of maintenance and part failures. Gas dryers should be occasionally inspected by a professional to ensure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.

“Line of Duty” Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.


Take Precautions to Prevent Fires during Cold Weather
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

With record-setting low temperatures, furnaces and space heaters are being used to keep homes warm. Before turning up a thermostat or plugging in a space heater, remember to think twice about both safety and energy efficiency.

The National Fire Protection Association states that heating equipment, like space heaters, are the No. 1 cause of home fires during December, January and February and the second-leading cause of home fires year-round. Most accidents involving space heaters are the result of human error – heaters are placed too close to combustible material like drapes and furniture, or they have not been properly maintained.

Don’t end up a statistic. Follow these tips and share them with your friends and family:

  • Give space heaters their space. Space heaters pose a higher risk of fire and death than central heating systems. Keep the space heater at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including walls.
  • Unplug the heater every time you leave the room and when you go to bed.
  • Plug electric-powered space heaters into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
  • Make sure the plug fits snugly in the outlet, since a loose plug can overheat. If you’re using the space heater in the bathroom, be sure to use a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Remember, electricity and water do not mix.
  • Don’t hide the cord under a rug or carpet. This can cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
  • Keep it stable. Don’t put your space heater on plush carpet or other surfaces where the space heater may tip over easily.
  • Check the tag. Make sure an independent testing laboratory (Underwriters Laboratories) has approved your new space heater.

To conserve energy, try to keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Space heaters should be on timers when you’re at home. Use programmable thermostats to lower temperatures automatically when you’re not at home, leave drapes or curtains open to take advantage of solar heat, and throw an extra blanket on the bed rather than turn up the heat. As a rule of thumb, heating and cooling are responsible for 40 percent of energy use in the home. Stay safe and warm, but conserve where you can.

For more information about NFPA, please visit their website at www.NFPA.org.

LiveSafe Foundation is a non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.










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