Have a Safe and Sane Holiday Season
By Owen Whetzel
As a child I recall the phrase "have a safe and sane fourth of July," but I don't recall ever hearing the same "safe and sane" slogan applied to the Christmas holiday season.
It should be.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), "each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. In addition, there are 11,600 candle-related fires each year, resulting in 150 deaths, 1200 injuries and $173 million in property loss annually. Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of more than $10 million in property loss and damage."
Now is the time to think about holiday safety and here are some tips:
Test the operation of all smoke detectors. Although these lifesaving devices should be checked, monthly according to the manufacturer's instructions, with decorations and lighted candles it's a good time to double check their operation.
If you have fire extinguishers (and you should), make sure they are not in need of servicing (yearly recharging is recommended for many extinguishers). Firms that service extinguishers are listed in the Yellow Pages under "Fire Extinguishers." You should position one extinguisher near a Christmas tree and gifts. One layer of gift wrap paper around an extinguisher will help it to blend in with the decorations, but make sure that all household members know where it's located.
If you suspect that your fireplace chimney is dirty, have it cleaned and inspected. A qualified chimney sweep is trained to recognize damage and potential problems. Never burn wrapping paper, ribbon or other refuse in the fireplace.
Here are some additional tips from the CPSC:
Trees:
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
When purchasing a cut tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break, when bent between your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
When settingup a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and other heat-producing sources. Because heated rooms dry cut trees out rapidly, be sure to make a fresh cut across the trunk butt before placing the tree in a stand and then keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
Consider purchasing a live tree.
Lights:
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
Make sure any extension cord you use is rated for the intended use. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
Never use electric lights on an artificial metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
Stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles into homes. This is particularly true when placing ornaments on a roof or hanging lights from gutters.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks, that are made for just that purpose.
Turn off all holiday lights, when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a licensed, qualified electrician.
Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on lights - you could damage the wiring and they could unravel, and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
Decorations:
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous, if ingested by children.
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food, that may tempt a child to eat them.
Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation, while decorating with spun glass "angel hair."
Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
Fireplaces:
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting, if eaten. Keep them away from children.
With these tips in mind may you and your family have a safe and sane Christmas holiday season.