As winter intensifies across North India, heating devices are proving to be 'silent killers,' causing multiple deaths, predominantly due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and suffocation. Incidents have been reported from various regions, including Delhi flats, Bihar villages, Punjab, and Kashmir, often claiming entire families in their sleep. Medical experts describe carbon monoxide as a 'silent killer' because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it impossible to detect without a CO alarm until it's too late. Heating appliances, whether coal-based 'angeethis' or electric heaters, consume oxygen in poorly ventilated spaces and produce toxic gases like CO and carbon dioxide. Victims often experience dizziness, headaches, and fatigue before losing consciousness, unaware of the danger. A retrospective study conducted by AIIMS New Delhi over 15 years highlighted that 95% of CO fatalities occurred during winter, with coal-burning vessels in poorly ventilated rooms being the primary cause. Beyond carbon monoxide poisoning, doctors also caution about other health risks associated with prolonged heater use, such as depleting moisture from the air, which can lead to dry nose, throat, and skin, and worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies. To prevent such tragedies, experts and official advisories strongly recommend ensuring adequate ventilation by keeping a window or door slightly ajar when heaters are in use, never leaving heaters on overnight in closed rooms, and maintaining a safe distance from flammable materials. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) also mandates safety guidelines for heaters, advising consumers to buy only ISI-certified appliances with features like automatic cut-off protection.