Stay safe while staying warm

As the winter months bring colder temps, a portable space heater is an inexpensive way to bring some extra warmth to a particular area or room in your home – say, for example, that spare bedroom turned classroom or home office. But before you use a space heater to subdue the chill, here are some safety tips to keep in mind from the National Fire Prevention Association:

• Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.
• Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people.
• Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.
• Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
• Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.
• Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
• Keep children away from the space heater.
• Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
• Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.