Winter is almost upon us and with load shedding taking its toll many households are dependent on alternative sources of power and warmth. However, appliances that use gas and open flames can be dangerous. Use this checklist to stay warm and safe over the cold snap.

Get clued up on gas

• Have all your gas appliances, including boilers, gas stoves and gas fires, safety checked annually.
• Always use a professional to fit, fix and check gas appliances in your home.
• Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
• Check gas appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly e.g. lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks or stains on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room. Remember that an unsafe appliance sometimes has none of these signs at all.
• Carbon monoxide can leak from appliances. Buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm for your home and make sure it is located near to your gas appliances in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance. . 
• Use products for their intended purpose e.g. don’t use a gas oven to heat a room or use a gas braai inside the house.
• Ensure there is enough ventilation for your gas appliances to allow them to burn correctly – and make sure you are not blocking any air vents that provide an air supply to the gas appliance.

Beware of open flames

• Keep anything that can burn at least one metre away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a one-metre “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Always use the fuel specified by the manufacturer for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

Be cautious with candles

• Always keep a burning candle within sight. Extinguish all candles when leaving a room and before going to sleep.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, curtains, bedding, carpets, books, paper, and flammable decorations.
• Keep burning candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Always use a candle-holder specifically designed for candle use and use the right size candle in the holder. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
• Keep burning candles away from draughts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents. This will help prevent rapid, uneven burning and flame flare-ups. Draughts can also blow nearby lightweight items into the flame where they could catch fire.
• Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Don’t burn too many candles in a small room or in a “tight” home where air exchange is limited.
• Avoid using candles during a power outage.  Battery-powered and solar-powered lights are safer sources of light.

Part of being safe means being adequately insured, so make sure that your insurance is adequate and up to date.