WARM YOUR HEART AND YOUR HOME: TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE WHILE HEATING YOUR HOUSE THIS WINTER
For your consideration for publication, please find the following community
column from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).
Thank you,
Contacts:
Todd Jorgensen Jennifer Nuhfer
LEAP Director The Bawmann Group
CDHS 303.320.7790
303.861.0325
As winter continues to chill Colorado residents, many people turn to alternative heat sources like space heaters and fireplaces to help stay warm. While alternative heat sources can provide extra warmth, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months. So before you rev up the fireplace or plug in a space heater, be sure to consider your family’s safety as well as their comfort. Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) can help cover heating costs, but it’s up to residents to use alternative heat sources safely.
LEAP is a federally funded program that provides cash assistance to help families and individuals pay winter home heating costs. The program pays the highest benefits to those with the highest heating bills and lowest incomes by family size. Applicant income cannot exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty index, which equals a maximum income of $3,400 per month before taxes for a household of four people.
According to Todd Jorgensen, director of LEAP, as of January 31, LEAP has helped more than 80,000 Colorado households. This represents an increase of more than 30 percent from the same time last year.
“While LEAP helps eligible Colorado families cover winter home heating costs, we also want to help ensure that Coloradans have the necessary information to maintain a warm and safe residence throughout the remaining winter months,” says Todd Jorgensen, director of LEAP.
Energy Outreach Colorado and the Red Cross offer the following safety tips-
When using electric space heaters…
* Thoroughly inspect all power cords for any fraying, cracked casings or exposed wires.
* Use only heaters that are certified by a nationally recognized laboratory and that have an automatic shut-off feature in case they fall or overheat.
* If you need an extension cord, use size 14 gauge or larger. Using an incorrectly sized extension cord may present a fire hazard.
* Don’t leave heaters unattended and remember to turn them off before leaving the room.
* Place heaters on a hard, non-flammable surface, and don’t run cords under carpet or rugs.
When using fireplaces…
* Have your chimney cleaned and inspected once a year to be sure it is clear of fire hazards.
* Always use a heavy-duty screen or glass cover to keep sparks and rolling logs away from floor coverings.
* Keep your kids away from hot glass covers-- their hands can get severely burned in seconds.
Install Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Smoke Detectors…
* CO detectors should be placed near bedrooms so that they will wake you if CO levels build up inside your house while you sleep.
* You should have at least one smoke detector on every floor of your home and you may want to install extras near bedrooms, fireplaces or the kitchen.
* Check the detectors every month by pressing the test button, and be sure to replace batteries regularly.
* Practice an evacuation plan with your family. Discuss escape routes from every room in your house and decide on a rendezvous point away from the home.
Always remember…
* Be sure your heating vents are not blocked by furniture, curtains or floor coverings.
* Keep all flammable items (like books and magazines) at least three feet from heat sources.
* Never use your stove or oven as a heat source for your home.
To find out if you qualify for LEAP, call toll-free 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435). Applications for LEAP are accepted anytime between November 1 and April 30 of each year. For more information about LEAP, please call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) or visit www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap <http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap> to view the most current program application requirements.