American Red Cross Offers Tips to Help Protect Your Family’s Health, Safety
After responding to more than 50 fires affecting more than 250 people in the Nebraska-Iowa Region in the first 10 days of February alone, The American Red Cross (redcross.org/local/Nebraska) recently shared some tips to help protect your family’s health and safety this winter. Home fires typically rise during winter as people spend more time indoors, use a variety of heating sources, and do more cooking, all of which contribute to the seasonal spike.
To protect your family from devastating injury and loss, the Red Cross offered the following nine home heating safety tips: 1) If using a space heater, look for a model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over. Place the heater on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface in the home. 2) Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains, or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces. 3) Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. 4) Keep children and pets away from space heaters. 5) Cut down on heating costs. Insulate the home by installing storm windows or covering the inside of windows with plastic to keep cold air out. 6) Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. 7) Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. 8) Test batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 9) Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with everyone who lives in the home.
In like manner, the Red Cross offers the following seven cooking-safety tips: 1) Keep an eye on what you fry! Never leave cooking food unattended. 2) Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper, and curtains. Also, keep children and pets at least three feet away. 3) Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. 4) When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner. 5) Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. 6) Turn pot handles to the back of the stove so no one bumps them or pulls them over. 7) Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
Each day, the American Red Cross is active in the community, serving those in need. To learn more or inquire about donating blood or plasma—which are always needed—call (402) 343-7700 or visit redcross.org/local/Nebraska.