When winters comes, it brings with it the almighty freeze that is rather uncomfortable. The days are shorter, the nights are longer. The roads are colder and the air is sometimes freezing. Hard to believe then that winter is considered the riskiest time of year for house fires.

Think about it logically though and it all makes sense. We don't want to sit at home shivering – we heat our homes for extended hours. We don't even solely rely on central heating. There is a huge range of home heating equipment, some of which you probably have at home.

There are around 100 house fires per year that are the direct result of a faulty electric blanket. Put that side by side with this statistic; over 7500 chimney fires arise every year in England alone.

Frightening statistics such as these make it imperative that everything possible is done to avoid catastrophe.

The following tips can help you keep safe during the winter months:

Smoke Alarms

First and foremost, ensure you have adequate smoke alarms installed and that they are working.

Smoke alarms save more lives than firefighters! Make certain that everyone living in your home is familiar with the sound of your smoke alarms and they know what to do if the alarm sounds.

Heating the home

Only cigarettes are responsible for more house fires than heating methods that have gone awry.

Fireplaces are both snug and picturesque but pose a formidable threat if not treated with respect. If you have an open fire in your home, always accompany it with the use of a fire guard to prevent hot embers and flying sparks from jumping out and coming into contact with materials that may initiate an inferno engulfing your home.

When you go to bed, always check that embers in the fire are under control and properly extinguished. Your chimney and flue should be cleaned and maintained to protect against house fire.

Portable heaters can provide a much needed boost to the temperature in your home. If you elect to use one always ensure that it is kept away curtains, furniture and clothes. This cannot be stated enough – certain materials can see your warm home turn into sweltering accident scene.

Electric heaters should always be unplugged before retiring to the bedroom. Never use gas or paraffin heaters in rooms with insufficient ventilation. Heaters use up oxygen in the air and can potentially cause suffocation in unsuitable rooms.

Staying warm

Because you've turned the fire and heaters off for the night, you are going to need another way to keep warm later in the night. Many people cannot rave enough about electric blankets; they can keep your bed warm before you get in it. They also present a fire hazard if used incorrectly so must be treated with care.

Always ensure that you have unplugged your blanket before you get in bed. Some electric blankets come with a thermostat that can control temperature and may be safe for all night use. Do not assume this is the case. Always check that your blanket can be left on constantly if you plan on leaving it plugged in.

Your electric blanket should be stored flat and rolled up or folded loosely to protect the wiring from becoming damaged and you should test the blanket every 3 years.

Power Outages

Power cuts are more common in winter as more energy is being consumed and used up. If you find yourself in the middle of a power shortage battery operated torch is the best  lternative lighting.

You could perhaps consider keeping a torch handy in case a blackout does occur. If you do not have a torch or choose to use candles to light your home, make sure that they are completely put out before leaving a room or going to bed. Extinguish candles with spoon or snuffer to ensure that sparks and embers do not fly out which may happen when blowing out candles.

Correct candle holders should be used to secure candles in place. Do not place candles near materials that can catch on fire.

Source : articlesbase.com

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