Stay safe while decorating this holiday season by following these safety tips:
TREES
Needles and sap produced by live trees are highly flammable and even fake trees labeled “Fire Resistant” have the potential to go up in flames.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible area.
- Keep trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces and heaters.
- Dry trees can catch fire faster than ones that have been properly watered. Check if your tree needs water by tugging on a branch – if any needles break, water your tree.
ORNAMENTS
- Breakable and fragile ornaments should be placed up top out of the reach of pets and children.
- Use ribbon or string instead of metal hooks to prevent the potential for injury.
WRAPPING PAPER
Don’t use your fireplace to burn wrapping paper as it can catch on fire very quickly potentially causing flash fires. Consider being environment-friendly and recycle or reuse the wrapping paper.
LIGHTS
- Replace any lights with frayed wires, broken sockets, and loose connections.
- Look for lights with Underwriters Lab labels; these lights have been tested for safety. A red label means they can be used indoors and out and green labels mean indoor-use only.
- Be aware of wattage levels. Read labels for lights and other wired decorations to avoid overloading circuits.
- Mount lights with hooks or insulated staples to prevent damaging the cords. Avoid using nails or tacks.
- Turn off all lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
CANDLES
Never leave a lit candle unattended and make sure they are a safe distance from curtains, bedding, paper and other flammable items. Place candles on a durable base to avoid tipping and on a base that melted wax won’t damage.
CHILDREN AND PET SAFETY
- Breakable and fragile ornaments should be placed up top out of the reach of pets and children.
- Avoid decorations that look like candy or food.
- Poinsettias are poisonous when eaten so they should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
ASK FOR ASSISTANCE
Make sure you use ladders and other equipment properly for decoration setup done in places that are out of your normal reach. Asking someone to support the base of the ladder and help you with decorating in general is also a good idea.
