Preparation pays off. Heating accidents happen but, with a little extra caution, a safer winter can be possible.

Dr. Bounthavy Homsombath, medical director of the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, says he sees burns every winter from some sort of heating equipment malfunction or misuse. He wants everyone to use extra caution this winter to stay safe indoors.

“It’s never too early or too late in the season to have your heating units and your fireplaces professionally inspected,” said Dr. Homsombath. “Just because you can’t see or smell something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Dust build-up and gas leaks can be hard to detect. By having your air vents, heating units, fireplaces, chimneys, and natural gas connections professionally cleaned or inspected, you can have peace of mind.”

December, January, and February are the peak months for heating fires, which are the second leading cause of home fires, deaths, and injuries in the country, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Though not all burn or fire incidents can be avoided, some simple ways to reduce heating hazards include establishing a three-foot zone around heating equipment free of any flammable or combustible materials and never leaving fires or heaters unattended. These steps help prevent unwelcome incidents and ensures, if one happens, that you can act quickly.

“A three-foot zone prevents children from getting burned and decorations from catching on fire,” he said. “There doesn’t need to be direct contact for nearby flammable materials or loose-fitting clothes to catch fire.”

• Other safety precautions include:

• Never leave a fire, space heater or other heating source unattended.

• Do not overload a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

• Don’t use an accelerant to start a fire in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

• Use a screen to control sparks from a fireplace.

• Make sure ashes and other debris from fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are safely disposed far from buildings.

• Use flashlights – not candles – for emergency lighting if the power goes out.

• Always make sure fire and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

• Make sure a fire extinguisher is available.

Space heaters or portable heaters are exceedingly dangerous. They have the potential to overheat, catch nearby things on fire, burn people on contact, and tip over.

“I highly discourage the use of space heaters because of the number of patients we see every year who’ve been burned by them,” he said. “If you’re using one this winter, understand the risks and take the proper precautions to avoid a burn injury.”

• If you’re using a portable heater this winter, keep in mind the following safety tips:

• When using portable heaters, make sure that the electrical cords aren’t damaged or obstructing

  walkways.

• Plug portable heaters directly into wall outlets. Never use an extension cord or power strip.

• Never plug anything else into the same wall outlet as the one you are using for your space

  heater.

• Keep space heaters away from combustible items, including clothes, furniture, and curtains.

• Do not use a space heater to help dry clothes or other items.

• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off in case it tips over.

• Never sleep with the heater on.

Getting burned by fire or hot surfaces is not the only risk when temperatures drop. Frostbite, which occurs when body parts are exposed to extremely cold temperatures, can cause serious injury.

Frostbite has tell-tale signs to look for: the feeling of pins and needles or lack of feeling in an area, or skin that is hard and pale. Once the area has been warmed up, it may appear red and painful. If you think you may have frostbite, there are some definite “do nots” for the affected area:

• Do NOT thaw out a frostbitten area if it cannot be kept from refreezing. Refreezing may make tissue damage even worse.

• Do NOT use direct dry heat (such as a radiator, campfire, heating pad, or hair dryer) to thaw the frostbitten areas. Direct heat can burn the tissues that are already damaged.

• Do NOT rub or massage the affected area.

• Do NOT disturb blisters on frostbitten skin.

“If you are unsure, get it checked out,” said Dr. Homsombath. “A good outcome is often dependent on early identification and treatment.”

The medical professionals at the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital are trained in treating frostbite with thrombolytic therapy. If frostbite occurs or you are unsure of the severity of a low-temperature injury, find the nearest facility that offers thrombolytic therapy for frostbite.

You may be given clot-busting drugs and the frostbitten area may be thawed with warm water before the need for further intervention is determined.