Red Cross Gives Safety Tips for Fire Prevention
The following is a press release from the American Red Cross:
As extreme weather makes its way through our region today, the Red Cross is on stand-by to assist local communities in the event that humanitarian assistance is needed.
As a precaution, the Red Cross urges residents to be prepared and safe. With the risk of high winds, it is important to secure your lawn items and be prepared for power outages. Additionally, as temperatures drop, the risk of home fires rises. The Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:
All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned if necessary.
If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, or carpets or near bedding or drapes.
Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
For more preparedness and safety tips, visit our website www.nyredcross.org.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.