How to Keep Your Home Safe during Winter

One of the biggest hazards that come with cold weather is slipping and falling. Protect yourself, your children and your guests by keeping all exterior sidewalks and driveways clear of ice and snow. This will require some work on your behalf. But since all of us make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, consider shoveling snow and chipping ice as just another workout. Using sand and salt will help ice from forming and you from slipping.

The frequent use of the furnace and the oven can increase the chance of a fire. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to test the smoke detectors. There should be a test button on each smoke detector. If all your smoke detectors are wired together (which they should be), when you press one button, all of them should go off together. Make sure that each detector is functioning. It is a good idea to replace the batteries annually. January 1^st is an easy date to remember – hint, hint.

As the temperature drops, so will the amount of time your children spend outside. Their need for speed can be dangerous for them and your electronics. Make sure all cords and cables are secured to the floor or wall or hidden from tripping. If you have toddlers and young children, make sure every open electrical plug has a cover installed on it.

Chilly days create a desire to cook and bake. If a pan catches on fire either quickly put a lid on it or pour baking soda on it. Do not use water. Do not take the pan off the stove, the contents could splash and burn you.

Another way to prevent a house fire is to never leave a candle unattended. Any open flame is a fire hazard. If you leave the room, please blow out the candle. The sound of a crackling log in the fireplace is so soothing – until a coal pops out and catches the carpet on fire. Imagine if you were not there.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 25,000 residential fires are caused by space heaters causing more than 300 deaths and 6,000 burn injuries annually. Make sure that your heater has an Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label and has a tip-over safety switch. Plug them directly into a wall outlet; do not use an extension cord.