Tips to ensure a safe season
The Holiday Season is a time of joy, but unfortunately it can also be a dangerous
time for many. Every year about eight thousand people are treated for injuries
resulting from accidents related to holiday decorating or decorations. Christmas
trees alone are involved in more than four hundred fires each year. Decorating
with safety in mind can help keep you from becoming one of those statistics.
Choosing a Safe Tree
If a real tree is part of your decorating, make sure its as fresh as possible.
A dry tree becomes a potential pile of kindling in your living room. The needles
on a fresh tree will bend instead of breaking and should not pull off of the
branches easily. To make sure it stays fresh keep the stand filled with water
(as much as a gallon every day) and locate the tree away from fireplaces, radiators
and space heaters. If you're choosing an artificial tree, look for a "Fire
Resistant" label before making your purchase.
Fireplaces and Mantels
Fireplaces and mantels seem to be a natural for holiday decorations. However,
stockings and other combustible decorations can be a hazard if the fireplace
is actually in use. Also resist the urge to burn wrapping paper or pine boughs
in the fireplace as their floating embers can escape your chimney and ignite
your roof or a neighboring roof. Candles can also add a cozy touch to your
home during the holidays, but they too should be used with caution. Make sure
the candles are contained in sturdy, non-combustible holders and placed well
away from other flammable decorations. A red candle surrounded by green pine
boughs may look attractive, but it's also an invitation for a fire. When candles
are lit don't leave them unattended, especially if children are in the house,
and check them frequently to make sure they don't burn down too far.
Holiday Ornamental Lights
Holiday lights can not only present a fire hazard but also pose the risk of
electric shock. Select only lights that have been tested by a reputable testing
laboratory to ensure that they conform to safety standards. Even if lights
have been tested, they can become unsafe if used improperly or if they are
damaged. Check every strand for broken bulbs, cracked sockets or frayed wires.
If any damage at all is apparent discard the lights. Invariably, extension
cords will be needed to put the lights where you want them so choose them carefully
as well. Never connect more than three standard sized sets of lights to a single
extension cord, and, when possible, connect them to a circuit that is protected
with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI.) An electrician can install
an outlet equipped with a GFCI, or you can purchase a portable unit that connects
to an existing outlet. The GFCI will sense any short circuit, or fault, that
occurs and interrupt the flow of voltage to prevent the risk of serious shock
or fire. Avoid using metal fasteners (like nails or tacks) to secure outdoor
lights. Instead use the plastic clips, hooks or insulated cable staples available
at home centers and hardware stores. An inexpensive plug-in timer is a good
investment, not only to turn the lights on but also to make sure they go off
before you go to bed. It's also a good idea to turn the lights off when you're
away from home.
Don't Forget To Check Your Smoke Alarm
Even if you follow all of the precautions there is still the chance of a fire
so be sure your home has a working smoke detector on every floor. The National
Fire Protection Association reports that about 22 million homes have non-working
alarms due to dead or missing batteries. Homeowners often remove the batteries
to silence a false alarm (from burned toast or a steamy shower) and never replace
them. To combat this practice First Alert has introduced a new smoke alarm
that can be silenced or tested using any household remote control. The unit
also distinguishes between rising and dissipating smoke conditions to analyze
the level of threat and respond accordingly. The company has also incorporated
this remote control technology into a carbon monoxide alarm. A carbon monoxide
alarm should also be located on each floor of the home to ensure that your
family is safe for the holidays.
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