Holiday Safety
It's that festive time of year again – time to string the
lights, hang decorations, put up Christmas trees, and bring out the candles to
celebrate the holidays. To keep the holiday season a merry one, the Raytown
Fire Protection District has decorating safety tips.
No matter how you plan to celebrate the holidays, special
care should be taken when decorating. Following these safety tips can help
prevent holiday traditions from turning into tragedies.
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,800 people
for falls, cuts, shocks, and burns due to incidents involving faulty holiday
lights, dried-out Christmas trees and other holiday decorations.
Christmas Tree Safety
Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually,
resulting in an average of 10 deaths, 40 injuries and about $7 million in
property damage and loss. In addition, there are more than 15,000
candle-related fires each year, which result in 140 deaths and $307 million in
property loss.
Consider an artificial tree (they are much safer and
cleaner).
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label
"Fire Resistant". Although this label does not mean the tree won't
catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning.
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh
tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when
bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and
when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on
the ground. Cut 1 inch off the trunk to help absorb water. Leave the tree
outside until ready to decorate. The stand should hold at least 1 gal. of
water. A 6' tree will use 1 gallon of water every two days. Mix a commercial
preservative with the water. Check the water level every day. Secure the tree
with wire to keep it from tipping. Keep tree away from floor heaters,
fireplaces, or other heat sources.
Use only UL-listed lights, and no more than 3 strands linked
together. Use miniature lights--which have cool-burning bulbs. Turn off the
Christmas lights when you sleep, or if you leave your home for very long. Never
use candles, even on artificial trees.
When setting up a tree at home, place it away from
fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be
sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of
traffic, and do not block doorways.
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to
trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded
metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid
sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out
of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid
trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
Dispose of the tree properly.
NEVER BURN A REAL TREE IN THE FIREPLACE.
Home Safety
Use only outdoor rated Christmas lights outside your home.
Examine light strings each year, discard worn ones, fasten
the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture build up.
Never use indoor extension cords outside and avoid
overloading wall outlets with extension cords.
Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of
puddles and snow.
Make sure trees hung with Christmas lights are not touching
power lines.
When using candles, always place them a safe distance from
combustibles. Extinguish candles prior to going to bed.
Dispose of fireplace ashes into a metal container until
cold.
Install smoke detectors or new batteries in the one(s) you
have and TEST them.
Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Have an operable fire extinguisher readily available.
