It's that time of the year when space heaters are used to help warm up spots in your home that need a little extra heat. That said, you need to make sure you are using your space heater safely. Health Department's across Illinois are putting out the word about space heater safety, specifically making sure you plug your space heater directly into a wall and not into a power strip or extension cord. RaeAnn Tucker is with the Henry and Stark County Health Department...

You can use space heaters with an extension cord but the extension cord must be matched with the specifications of the space heater, it has to be the same gauge to handle the heat and charge of a space heater. Be sure to read the instructions for safe use.