As the weather is getting quite cold in New England, many of us, especially with COVID, are forced indoors. Because we spend much more time in our home in these colder months, there are a number of things that we do to keep warm. Many of these activities can present a serious risk of injury and/or death and there are ways to avoid them.

If your home is heated by a furnace then you should contact your oil company and arrange to have it serviced. This should include an inspection to make sure that it is functioning properly and that there are no leaks- which might cause a risk of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you have a fireplace or wood stove in your home you should also have it inspected to make sure that it is functioning properly. If you have a fireplace, make sure that is always covered by a screen so that hot embers do not fly out and cause a fire. You should never leave a burning fire unattended and you should make sure that the fire is completely out before going to bed.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us light candles around our homes. If you use candles, make sure they are placed in an area where they are safe from other objects and items around them. You should also keep them away from pets and young children so as to reduce the risk of a potential fire. Like fires, you should never leave them burning unattended and if you go to bed, make sure they are blown out.

You should make sure that you have the appropriate number of smoke detectors, placed in the proper locations, as well as carbon monoxide detectors. You should change the batteries at the end of daylight savings time when the clocks change over and you should check them on a regular basis to make sure that they are functioning properly.

If you utilize a space heater, you should make sure that is functioning properly, is placed far enough away from other objects or items so as not to create a fire hazard, and make sure that it is turned off before you go to bed at night.

If you follow these simple tips and suggestions, then you have a much better chance of avoiding a home fire- which kills countless individuals each year and seriously injures many others. You should also exercise caution and good judgment during these cold winter months so as to avoid these unnecessary accidents and accompanying injuries.