Just in case you were unsure, space heaters are really dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), in 2005 space heaters:
· Caused 62,200 U.S. home structure fires
· Involved 670 deaths
· Involved 1550 injuries
· Cost $909 million in property damages
· Caused 22 percent of home fire deaths
The threat of fire is not the only issue – improper venting equipment can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
· From 1999-2004, an average of 439 people died annually from carbon monoxide poisoning
· From 2004-2006, an estimated 20,636 people went to the emergency room for nonfatal, unintentional, non-fire related carbon monoxide exposures per year
o 71 percent of those resulted from home exposure
o 41 percent occurred during winter months
Tags: space heater
