Winter is one of the riskiest seasons for household fires and burn injuries from household items, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
Cooking-related fires top the list of household fire causes year-round, and they are a significant source of serious burn injuries, especially in young children. During the winter months, however, fires and burn injuries caused by household heating equipment also start to play a significant role in endangering Oklahoma families, as every Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer has seen.
Households that use heating equipment like fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters are at particular risk, according to the USFA. Between 2008 and 2010, 87 percent of heating-related residential fires were caused by problems with chimneys, flues, or fuel burners. While newer space heaters often include automatic off switches and other features that make them safer, all space heaters pose a risk, especially if they contain a hidden defect.
You can help prevent burn injuries in your household this winter by taking some simple safety steps:
- Make sure all heating equipment is clean, in good condition, and works properly. Call a professional to fix problems in furnaces or chimneys.
- Install at least one working smoke detector on every floor in your home and in every bedroom. Test and change batteries at least twice a year.
- Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause lethal suffocation if inhaled. Make sure all heating equipment is adequately ventilated to prevent a carbon monoxide buildup. Installing carbon monoxide alarms also gives your family an “early warning” if buildup occurs.
- Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recall notices about defective space heaters and other equipment. If you learn that an item in your home has a defect, stop using it immediately.
The experienced Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at Maples Law Firm hope every family experiences the winter season without incident.
