Holiday Hazards - Celebrating Safe And Sound

Before you make merry, make sure you know how to keep yourself and your family safe during the holidays. Follow the tips below for a brighter (watch those candles!) holiday season.

Fire Safety

Holidays are usually filled with more cooking, home decorating, and entertaining—not to mention an increased risk of fire. To protect yourself and your family, follow these safety tips:

Holiday Decorating and Lighting

•Choose decorations made of flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials when possible.
•Keep candles away from decorations and Christmas trees.
•Before plugging in lights, check for damage.
•Don’t overload extension cords.
•Don’t pierce light string cords with clips or nails when hanging.
•Keep children and pets away from electrical decorations.
•Make sure to turn off light strings and decorations and blow out candles before leaving the house or going to bed.
•Make sure live greenery is fresh. Keep dried out trees and garland away ?from open flames.

SOURCE: nfsc.org

Holiday Entertaining

•Keep an eye on the stove and oven while chatting with visitors.
•Ask visitors to smoke outside and use ashtrays.
•Keep matches and lighters away from children.
•Place candles on non-flammable surfaces and away from drafts.
•Don’t keep candles burning for more than a few hours at a time.
•Test your smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms before any gathering.
•Let guests know what your?fire escape plan?is.

Holiday Heating

•Make sure any space heater you buy carries the mark of an independent testing lab ?(look for a tag or sticker).
•Maintain a 36-inch clearance between space heaters and anything flammable.
•Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
•Make sure the flue is open before starting a fire in the fireplace.
•Have solid-fueled heating equipment inspected annually by a professional.
•Use seasoned wood to reduce sap build-up in your chimney.
•Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
•Place fireplace and wood stove ashes in a metal container.
•Test smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms monthly.

Find more safety facts and information at KnoWhat2Do.com.