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Use Space Heaters Cautiously
In this tough economy, many people are looking for affordable ways to stay warm.
The Red Cross advises people to avoid using alternative heating methods like space heaters and fire places.
Click here for more safety tips.
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It’s cold in Chicagoland, and fiery tragedy is sweeping through homes as people try to stay warm. The Red Cross is uniquely positioned to help people cope with both the loss of their home and the raw, emotional needs that follow a fire.
The Red Cross has helped more than 1,000 people recover from disasters in our area just since November. The majority of those disasters were home fires.
At the beginning of January 2009, Veronica Barclay of Chicago was trying to keep her room toasty with a space heater. Suddenly, she saw smoke coming from the heater. She shouted for her brother, who rushed upstairs with a fire extinguisher.
They thought they had controlled the fire, but they were wrong. Veronica heard an explosion. “It resurged, and there was fire everywhere,” she said. The two ran from the house, as fire raged behind them.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, space heaters cause up to 20,000 home fires each year. The fires that can be sparked by space heaters have the potential to ruin lives. The Red Cross is there to make sure that people have the resources they need to start again after a fire.
When the fire was extinguished, Veronica stood in front of her home feeling entirely overwhelmed. Then, her neighbors told her she had a visitor. “After all the devastation, I looked up and the Red Cross was here,” Veronica said.
“The Red Cross is really there to help people, and to help you in your greatest time of need,” she said.
Please take a moment to read through our heating safety tips, and keep your family both safe and warm this season. |
