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Take Precautions This Winter While You Are Keeping Warm

Adobe Stock/Susanna Kemerling
/
WVIK News

The Davenport Fire Department wants to remind you about home heating safety this winter.

NFPA
/
Iowa State Fire Marshall

The Davenport Fire Department wants to remind you about home heating safety this winter.

Lieutenant Zach Soliz says to learn about fire risk, preparedness and prevention. He says to make sure to have a plan on how to exit the home, and have two exits from the home. The Lieutenant says to practice with the family so that muscle memory and accountability can be a part of the process, in case of a fire.

Soliz says fireplaces and space heaters are the most risky. Space heaters should have a clear radius around them of three feet, have a stable level setting, and be plugged in directly to a wall outlet as opposed to a surge protector or power strip.

During the holidays when visiting family, it’s important to be ready to tell emergency crews where you are, such as the address.

Soliz’ final piece of advice is to make sure you have working fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Symptoms of breathing carbon monoxide include lightheadedness and nausea.

Susanna Kemerling is WVIK Quad Cities NPR's 2022 Fellowship Host/Reporter. She graduated from Northern Illinois University for Media Studies in Communication and spent the last year working as a Teaching Assistant through the graduate program at NIU.
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