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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, October 30, 2009 10:30 PM CDT
Good time for winter safety check

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — The time change this weekend brings more than an extra hour of sleep.

By following some basic safety tips it can be a good time for gaining some peace of mind as well, said Mattoon Fire Chief Tony Nichols. People should turn back their clocks one hour before going to bed tonight.

“We always emphasize that the time change is the best time to change batteries in smoke detectors,” said Nichols. “Or it’s a good time to check on your CO2 detector.”

Other safety tasks also seem to chime in with the start of November when the weather tends to get chilly in East Central Illinois on a regular basis.

“Homeowners might want to have their furnace checked out. And make sure they change filters,” Nichols said.

There are other precautions relating to the change in temperatures heading into late fall as well.

One includes use of space heaters. Nichols said his department can offer some basic advice on safety standards and safe operating tips. One main concern is use of extension cords for heaters.

Basements or utility rooms tend to get cluttered while the furnace is not in use. So it is best to remove any potential fire hazards.

“We tell people to not stack cardboard or papers near a furnace or hot water heater,” Nichols said.

Clearing heat vents of obstructions is another safety tip worth considering, too.

If the furnace has not been on a high setting yet then it is best to be present when you do turn up the heat on that first extra cold night, Nichols said.

“When you have it going high for the first time some odors can build up and set off the detectors,” Nichols said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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