Wood and pellet stove safety
- As temperatures drop outside, Mesa
County residents begin firing up wood and pellet stoves inside. Take the time
to ensure your wood or pellet stove isn’t a major fire hazard for your family’s
safety. - Have a qualified professional install
stoves, chimney connectors and chimneys. - Burn only dry, seasoned wood or pellets appropriate for your stove.
- Have your chimney and stove inspected
and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep before heating season. - Clean the inside of your stove
periodically using a wire brush. - Allow ashes to cool before disposing
of them. Place ashes in a covered metal container at least 10 feet away from
the home and other buildings. - Stoves need space. Keep anything that
can burn at least 3 feet away from
the stove. Don’t forget to clear the area of holiday decorations. - Install and maintain carbon monoxide and smoke alarms outside each sleeping area
and on every level of the home. - Proper maintenance of wood and pellet stoves
also helps reduce smoke emissions. - If you have a wood or pellet stove,
check to see if it has an EPA sticker. Those without stickers must follow wood stove
burn restrictions throughout the winter depending on air quality. - Visit health.mesacounty.us for the
latest air quality conditions.
halloween safety
- Halloween is a holiday favorite to
many kids, but it’s important they know how to stay safe when trick-or-treating. - Remind your kids to:
- Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in
groups or with a trusted adult. - Hold a flashlight while
trick-or-treating to help you see and to help others to see you. - Always walk, don’t run from house to house.
- Look both ways before crossing the
street and use crosswalks whenever possible. - Only walk on sidewalks whenever
possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. - Wear reflective clothing.
- Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and
shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. - Never
enter a home unless you are with a trusted adult and never accept rides from strangers. - Parents should examine all treats for
choking hazards and tampering. Limit the amount of treats kids eat.
Check out our Healthy Mesa County Pinterest board for more health and safety tips!