2005 News

December 20, 2005

Tips To Keep Your Holiday Safe
Advice from the Bucks County Consumer Protection Department

Everyone enjoys a beautifully decorated house during the holiday season, but don’t let safety mistakes turn your holiday season into a disaster. By following a few simple precautions and tips, you can keep your holiday merry AND safe.

 Trees

Many artificial trees are fire resistant. Look for a statement specifying the duration of the protection. A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember:

• A fresh tree is green.
• Needles are hard to pull from branches.
• When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.
• The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.
• When the trunk is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that a tree is too dry.

Do not rely on chemical coatings or sprays to flameproof your fresh tree. Place the tree in your home away from fire-places, radiators, or other heat sources. See that it is out of the way of traffic and does not block doorways.

Cut off two inches of the trunk. Mount the tree in a water-holding stand with a wide base. Fasten large trees to walls or ceiling with thin guide wires. Keep the stand full of water as long as the tree is indoors, as you would with fresh flowers. Heated rooms cause trees to dry out rapidly, a potential fire hazard.

Lights

Indoors or outdoors, use only lights that have been tested for safety - looking for the “UL” label.

Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Discard damaged sets.

Check labels of outdoor lights to make sure the lights are weatherproof. Do not use indoor lights outdoors, and vice versa. Fasten outdoor lights securely to protect from wind damage.

Avoid potential fire hazards. Use no more than three sets of lights per single extension cord. Turn off lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Metallic trees can become charged with electricity from faulty lights. If this should happen, any person touching the tree could be electrocuted. To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside the tree, never mounted on it.

Keep “bubble” lights away from children. Such lights can be hazardous because their bright colors and bubbling action can tempt curious children to break open the lights and cut themselves on broken glass, and attempt to drink the liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.

Candles

Never use lighted candles on a tree or near evergreens. Keep candles or any open flames away from other decorations and wrapping paper. Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.

Fires

Before lighting any fire, open the chimney flue. Keep a screen in front of the fireplace whenever the fire is burning. Before closing the flue, make sure the fire is completely out.

General Rules for Christmas Safety

• Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.
• Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.
• Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do.
• Avoid wearing loose, flowing clothes – especially long, open sleeves – near the open flames of a fireplace, stove, or candlelit table.
• Never burn candles near evergreens on a mantelpiece or table. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can be hazardous. When dry, greens burn like tinder. Their flames can flare up out of control, sending sparks flying around the room.
• Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connections.
• Do NOT burn wrappings in the fireplace. A flash fire could result, because wrappings can ignite suddenly and burn fiercely.