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Don't let the holidays go up in flames.
Decorate with safety in mind
Christmas trees, decorations and candles are
traditional fixtures of the holiday season. However, when decorating
your home and celebrating the holidays, keep these important, but
often overlooked, safety tips from the San Antonio Fire Department and the National Fire
Protection Association in mind.
Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose
those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible
materials.
Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an
independent testing laboratory, and follow the manufacturer's
instructions for installation and maintenance.
Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace
damaged items before plugging lights in.
Do not overload extension cords.
Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.
Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire
insulation (i.e., using nails).
Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical
decorations.
Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving the house or
going to bed.
Tree Safety
When decorating Christmas trees, always use safe tree lights. (Some
lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.)
Larger tree lights should also have some type of reflector rather than
a bare bulb and a testing laboratory should listed on all light
strings.
Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights. Any
string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb
connections should not be used.
Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to
sleep.
Try to keep cut trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of
water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as
fire-retardant.
Children are fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye on
them when around the tree and do not let them play with wiring or
lights.
Make sure the tree is at least three feet from any heat
source. Try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not
running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block
exits.
Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out
trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or
garage, or placed against the house.
Additional Suggestion: When purchasing a cut tree, request a fresh cut
two inches up from bottom.
Candle Safety
Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to bed.
Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing,
books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).
Use candleholders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made
from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect
dripping wax.
Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can
close over them.
Place candleholders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use
candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or
pets.
Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them, such as pine
needles.
Candles and children:
Keep lit candles high out of reach of children.
Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should
not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out children's sight
and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
During power outages:
Try to avoid carrying lit candles. Don't use a lit candle when
searching for items in a confined space.
Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling
equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite
the fumes.
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