TULSA -- As the temperatures drop, it is important to keep a special eye out for seniors.
"It may be the first time they’ve turned on their heater for the year, but they don’t know if it works or not yet," Carol Carter with Life Senior Services, said.
She said it is not that they cannot tell if it works. It is a matter of if they will call for help if it does not.
"They could freeze to death and no one would know it," Bonnie Robertson said of her peers.
Many people turn to space heaters for additional heating in the winter. If not used properly, they can cause a fire.
"Never turn them on closer than three feet away from flammable material," Carter said. "Make sure they are on a hard non-flammable level surface. Make sure they’re not left on as they leave the room and don’t go to sleep with those space heaters on."
Carter said extension cords should not be used to power space heaters and power cords should not be run across rooms or under rugs.
She said seniors' bodies are colder than normal.
"If you're looking for a Christmas gift, maybe just some warm socks with grippers or a nice warm blanket will make those cold nights more bearable," Carter said.
Life Senior Services checks on seniors in their homes year round. They encourage people in the community to do the same, especially in the winter.
"Even when their heater is working fine, a nice friendly visit warms the day as well," Carter said.
If an elderly person needs help this winter, they can call 211.
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