Space Heater Safety:
Keep Your Children
Warm and Safe

It's important to remember space heater safety especially if you have a portable heater (space heater) in your child’s room in the winter or if their room gets especially cold.

Because the risk of a fire is higher if you are use a space heater rather than central heating, you have to be extra careful.

There are facts about space heaters that you should know to help prevent electrical fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that during the winter, space heaters are the leading cause of home fires in the United States.

Space Heater/Portable Heater Safety Tips

• Never allow children to be near a space heater. Many of them become very hot and can cause burns.


• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from your furniture, bedding, curtains, clothing or any other flammable material


• Do not dry any clothing, papers, etc on or around your space heater
  

• Do not use electric space heaters in the bathroom or around other wet areas


• Do not put anything on top of your space heater


• Buy only Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approved heaters


• Check to make sure your portable heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will automatically turn off if the heater falls over


• Never leave your space heater on while you are sleeping or if you leave the room


• Always unplug your space heater when not in use
  

• Have all fixed space heaters installed by a professional technician; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation


• Check with your local fire department about whether the use of kerosene heaters are legal in your area.


• Make sure your kerosene heater is in a well ventilated room


• Use only K-1 kerosene if kerosene heaters are allowed


• Never use gasoline or camp stove fuel to fill your heater; they flare up very quickly


• Use only the manufacturer's recommended fuel for each heater

Remember that with alternate ways of heating your home, your focus has to be on safety. Heaters are more dangerous, but knowing the facts about space heater safety will keep you and your children safe from electrical fires.

Be sure to have a working smoke detector on every level of your home. If you do have a fire, use your fire escape plans.

After you and your children are out of your home safely, call 911 or your local fire department.

Related Articles

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Electrical Fires

Fire Escape Plans

Fireplace Safety

Home Fire Safety Checklist

Matches Safety

Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detector Placement

Smoke Detector Testing

Smoking Safety


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