Holidays Safety tips

Holidays Safety tips

Respect electricity at all times. Fire can be a good thing when treated with respect, but can be a danger when paired with the many distractions during the holiday season. So in the quest to create a good old-fashioned family celebration, follow these important safety tips:-

INDOORS

·         Is your tree live? If so, make sure it is fresh and green with needles that are hard to pull from the branches.

·         Place the tree in a stand with water, well away from heaters or the fireplace, and check the water daily.

·         Before putting lights on the tree or using them in other home decorations, examine them carefully. Do they have frayed wiring or loose sockets? Throw them out! Make sure any you keep or replace have been tested for safety by an independent testing laboratory.

·         Make sure all light sockets have bulbs in them. Children are fascinated by lights and could put their fingers in empty sockets.

·         Do not let bulbs touch tree branches. Never burn candles on or near the tree and never use flammable decorations.

·         Never use lights on a metallic tree. If the lights become faulty, the entire tree could be electrified.

·         Be careful not to overload extension cords, outlets or even whole circuits in the house.

·         For optimum safety as well as energy efficiency, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights.

·         Place wires where they cannot trip anyone. Do not run them under rugs.

·         Turn off decorative lighting when you leave the room.

OUTDOORS

·         Make sure the lights used are specifically designated for outdoor use and the cords are not worn or frayed.

·         Use a non-conducting fiberglass or wooden ladder when working with strings of lights, and stay clear of all overhead wires.

·         Turn the electricity off before replacing bulbs.

·         Never let light bulbs touch flammable materials such as plastic or dry grass and leaves.

·         For outside use, work only with three-wire grounded extension cords.

·         Use rubber gaskets in light sockets or hang sockets downward to keep water out.

·         Keep connections and lights off the ground by hanging them over wooden stakes.

Follow all safety guidelines to ensure that you and your family make happy memories and get to enjoy this time with those you care about most.

WINTER HOLIDAY FIRES

Christmas trees

·         Between 2012-2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an average 170 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 4 deaths, 15 injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage annually.

·         On average, one of every 45 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 139 total reported home fires.

·         Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 43% of home Christmas tree fires.

·         In one-quarter (27%) of the Christmas tree fires and in 80% of the deaths, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.

·         More than one-fifth (22%) of Christmas tree fires were intentional. 

·         Forty-two percent of reported home Christmas tree fires occurred in December and 33% were reported in January. 

·         Two of every five (40%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Christmas Trees" report

Holiday decorations

·         U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 800 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2012-2016. These fires caused an annual average of two civilian fire deaths, 34 civilian fire injuries and $11 million in direct property damage.

·         Ten percent of decoration fires were intentional.

·         The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in two of every five (42%) fires.

·         More than one-fifth (21%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. Fifteen percent started in the living room, family room or den.

·         One-fifth (19%) of the home decoration fires occurred in December. 

 

Candles

·         On average, 23 home candle fires were reported each day between 2012-2016.

·         More than half (56%) of the December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to one-third (31%) in January to November.

·         The top three days for home candle fires were Christmas, New Year’s Day, and New Year's Eve.

 

Holiday cooking

·         Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

·         Cooking equipment was involved in 20% of home decoration fires. This can happen when a decoration is left on or too close to a stove or other cooking equipment.

 

Fireworks

·         Ten percent of fireworks fires occur during the period from December 30 through January 3, with the peak on New Year's Day.

Source: NFPA's "Fireworks" report.

Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months.