The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It's that time of the year again, time to start practicing safe heating! Remove trash and materials stored near heating equipment. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from heating equipment at all times. Have chimneys, woodstoves, and central heating systems inspected at least once a year, and have them cleaned if necessary. Tap water scald burns, which most often occur in the bathroom, are associated with more deaths and injuries than those caused by any other hot liquid. Therefore, if the water temperature of your hot water tank is 130EF (54EC) or more Ð turn the temperature down to 120EF (49EC) so to prevent scald burns. Smoke Alarms: Correctly locate, install, and maintain working smoke alarms on each level of your home, outside the sleeping areas and inside the bedrooms. Test weekly by pushing the alarm test button. Test monthly with actual smoke from a smouldering piece of cotton string, incense stick, or candlewick. Replace batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall, or when needed. Replace smoke alarms if they are 10 years old! Carbon Monoxide Alarms: If you heat with any type of fossil fuel such as natural gas, propane, wood, and oil, correctly locate, install, and maintain carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and cottage.
