As the weather gets colder, more people are breaking out the portable space heaters. But if you do grab yours, make sure you are doing so safely.

The National Fire Protection Association has some recommendations for anyone pulling out a portable space heater this winter:

Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory

Keep the heater at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including people.

Choose a heater with thermostat and overheat protection.

Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.

Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.

Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic.

Keep children away from space heaters.

Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet, never use an extension cord.

Unplug and turn

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