Stan White, the chief security officer of Praise Covenant Christian Center, continues to offer safety tips and vital information in the upcoming months. Therefore, please take note and stay alert especially when it comes to home heating safety tips.

Now that we are in the fall season with winter not far behind, it will soon be time to make use of the heaters and fireplaces in our homes.  Here are some tips to remember so that you can be safe at the same time that you are trying to keep warm.

• Schedule a professional inspection each year of all fuel-burning home heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents.
• Take precautions when using space heaters, fireplaces or other heating sources to help stay warm this winter.
• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in the home and check that the batteries are fresh and working.
• Place space heaters on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as a ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the heater off if you leave the area.
• Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards.  Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper use.
• Have flues and chimneys inspected for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.
• Never use electric or gas stoves to heat the home. They are not intended for that purpose and can cause fires and CO poisoning.