As the winter temperatures continue to fall, the Sedalia Fire Department is offering space heater safety tis to help prevent any accidents when heating your homes.

Space heaters are effective ways of staying warm. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind while using space heaters:

– Place the heater on a hard, level, and nonflammable surface. These appliances are intended to sit on the floor, not on a table.
– Establish a 3-foot kid-free, pet-free, and combustibles-free (like furniture and curtains) zone around the heater, and never put a space heater in a child’s room. Taller heaters may need larger zones.
– Don’t use a heater in a workshop or garage near paint, gas cans, or matches.
– Turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
– Unplug the heater when it’s not in use by pulling the plug straight from the outlet. Check the cord for damage periodically, and don’t use the heater if the cord is frayed or worn.
– Don’t plug another electrical device or an extension cord into the same outlet as a heater—that can cause overheating.
– Don’t plug space heaters into extension cords or surge protectors.
– Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom, and test them monthly.