As the temperature drops across Australia, knowing the risks associated with cooler weather is important. Using fuel-burning appliances (like gas heaters) during winter greatly increases the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fire in the home.
Statistics suggest that 43% of all fire fatalities occur in winter, often due to the misuse of heaters. Kidde suggests to prevent fire risks this winter, ensure you have a working smoke alarm and that space heaters meet the latest safety standards, which would include having a cut-off device if the heater tilts beyond specific angles, placing heaters on a stable non-flammable surface, keeping all materials at least 1 metre away from a heat source and turning heaters off when you leave an area or before going to bed.
