Portable heater safety

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - As the temperatures drop, more people are pulling out the portable heaters to keep them warm, but before you plug in that power cord there are a few things to keep in mind that could save your life.

Dave Thomas, Lafayette Fire Inspector, said it is extremely important to read and follow instructions on heaters and to make sure to look for a seal that shows the device is approved by a national testing institute.

He said people should look for heaters with built-in safety features.

"Make sure it has a guard around the flame area, around the heating element," he said. "Look for safety devices such as tip-over devices, overheat protection devices."

Thomas said before using electric or kerosene heater make sure to do a visual inspection to look for anything out of the ordinary.

"Inspect the cords," he said. "Make sure there's no damage to insulation, no frayed wires, anything like that."

If you find a problem, don't use it until it's repaired. Thomas also said never sleep or leave the house with the heater running.

"They should not be used as a permanent heating device in your house," Thomas said.

Also, keep any combustible material like rugs or drapes away from heaters. As always, whether you use portable heaters or not, Thomas reminds people to always keep working smoke detectors in their house.