WinterSafety

WINTER SAFETY TIPS

Ice Safety:

Here are some helpful tips if you plan to venture out on the ice, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Never go out alone.
Wear waterproof clothing and a life jacket in case you fall through the ice.
Be aware of weather conditions because any change can result in a difference in ice thickness.
Carry two ice picks or screwdrivers to dig into the ice in case you fall through.

If you're in distress, there are some good items to have to alert other people, including:

Cell phone
Whistle
Radio
Flare gun

Other tips include:

Write down where you are going, how long you will be gone, who you are with, where you are leaving from, where your vehicle is parked, what it looks like, and its license number, along with a description of your snowmobile or ice shanty. Give the information to a close friend or family member who will know the timetable that you are expected to be gone.
Wear a life jacket and brightly colored clothing.
Take a compass.
Know the area well before going.
Know the strength of the ice before leaving and test in front of you as you walk.
Only walk across areas of at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice. Remember, though, that even if ice is 1 foot thick in one area on a lake, it can be 1-inch thick just a few yards away.
Snowmobiles need at least 5 inches of ice, and cars and light trucks need at least 8 to 12 inches of good clear ice to be safe on it.
Do not cross cracks with open water and room for ice to move.
Do not go alone.
Carry devices to signal for help, such as auto flares, a marine radio, a cellular phone, a whistle, or any light source.
Avoid alcoholic beverages. This increase your chances for hypothermia and increase the likelihood that you will make a mistake that will cost you or a companion their life.

Heater Safety:

Heater safety tips:

Use a 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. CPSC worked to upgrade industry standards for electric, kerosene and vented and unvented gas space heaters. Kerosene heaters are required to have an automatic cut-off mechanism that will extinguish the flame if the unit tips over. Most electric heaters also have a similar mechanism to turn the unit off. More guarding around the heating coils of electric heaters and the burner of kerosene heaters also is required to prevent fires. Unvented gas space heaters require oxygen depletion sensors to help prevent carbon monoxide production from inefficient combustion.
Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials.
Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater. Make sure your heater meets current safety standards to shut off if oxygen levels fall too low. Make sure your heater is correctly rated for your home. An oversized heater could deplete the available oxygen, causing excess carbon monoxide to be produced. Keep a window in the room open at least one inch to ensure proper ventilation. This helps prevent pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to provide sufficient combustion air to prevent carbon monoxide production.
NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep. Never place a space heater close to any sleeping person.
Turn the space heater off if you leave the area. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
Have gas and kerosene space heaters inspected annually to ensure proper operation.
Do not use a kitchen range or oven to heat your house because it could overheat or generate excessive carbon monoxide.
Be aware that mobile homes require specially-designed heating equipment. Only electric or vented fuel-fired equipment should be used.
Have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house, inside every bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in each sleeping area. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.

Fireplace Safety

Fireplace safety tips:

Have flues and chimneys inspected before each heating season for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.
Open the fireplace damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never close the damper before going to bed if the ashes are still warm. An open damper will prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home, especially while the family is sleeping.
Never use gasoline, charcoal lighter or other fuel to light or relight a fire because the vapors can explode. Never keep flammable fuels or materials near a fire. Never store flammable liquids in your home.
Never use charcoal in a fireplace because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keep a screen or glass enclosure around a fireplace to prevent sparks or embers from igniting flammable materials.

Carbon Monoxide

Approximately 250 people in the United States died last year from the "Silent Killer" -- carbon monoxide (CO). This deadly gas is hard to detect because it is odorless, colorless and tasteless. UL recommends that consumers follow these steps to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

Have a qualified technician inspect fuel-burning appliances at least once each year. Fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, hot water heaters and stoves require yearly maintenance. Over time, components can become damaged or deteriorate. A qualified technician can identify and repair problems with your fuel-burning appliances.
Be alert to the danger signs that signal a CO problem: streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of your fuel-burning appliances; the absence of a draft in your chimney; excessive rusting on flue pipes or appliance jackets; moisture collecting on the windows and walls of furnace rooms; fallen soot from the fireplace; small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent or flue pipe; damaged or discolored bricks at the top of your chimney and rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible from outside your home.
Be aware that CO poisoning may be the cause of flu-like symptoms such as headaches, tightness of chest, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and breathing difficulties. Because CO poisoning often causes a victim's blood pressure to rise, the victim's skin may take on a pink or red cast.
Install a UL Listed CO detector outside sleeping areas. A UL Listed CO detector will sound an alarm before dangerous levels of CO accumulate. CO indicator cards and other devices are also intended to detect elevated levels of CO, but most are not equipped with an audible alarm, and cannot wake you at night, when most CO poisonings occur.
Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before installing a CO detector. Do not place the detector within five feet of household chemicals. If your detector is wired directly into your home's electrical system, you should test it monthly. If your unit operates off of a battery, test the detector weekly and replace the battery at least once a year.
Avoid placing your detector directly on top of or directly across from fuel-burning appliances. These appliances will emit some CO when initially turned-on. Never use charcoal grills inside a home, tent, camper or unventilated garage. Don't leave vehicles running in an enclosed garage, even to "warm up" your car on a cold morning.