How to stay warm, safely

As outdoor temperatures drop, indoor temperatures are turned up. But sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes, we need a bit more to keep the cold at bay—a roaring fire, a wood-burning stove, a little space heater to warm the toes.

According to the American Red Cross, home heating is one of the leading causes of death in America, largely because of the use of alternative heating sources.  

Nearly half of the families in the United States use alternative heating sources: space heaters, fireplaces, or coal or wood stoves to stay warm. These supplemental heating sources can be dangerous if not used properly. The Red Cross offers 10 tips to keep your family safe—and warm (see below). 

The Red Cross also recommends that families have a fire escape plan that includes two ways to escape from every room in the house—and make sure every family member knows the plan and where to meet once outside. 

“Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Teach household members to stop, drop and roll if their clothing should catch on fire,” the Red Cross says on its website.

It is also important to install smoke alarms on every level of the home—inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas—and to check monthly that smoke alarms are working properly by pushing the test button. Batteries should be replaced at least once a year and smoke alarms replaced every 10 years.

Safety tips for alternative heating sources: 

1. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. 
2. Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves or fireplaces. 
3. Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended. 
4. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. 
5. Place space heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. 
6. Keep children and pets away from space heaters. 
7. When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure. 
8. Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. 
9. Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year. 
10. Other safety steps—Check electrical appliances before leaving home. Do not leave food cooking on the stove. Blow out candles before going to bed. Do not overload electrical outlets.