Holidays are full of parties, festivities and family get-togethers. But the holidays are also a time to be very careful. The last thing you’d want is to have to call the fire department or risk spending these celebrations in an emergency room. With so many different things going on, it’s easy to become careless, distracted, and forget about fire safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas trees are responsible for over 150 fires, while holiday decorations are responsible for more than 800 fires every year. Keep these fire safety tips in mind while you’re celebrating the holidays.
Play it Safe with Holiday Decorations
When decorating your home for the holidays, be sure to use non-flammable decorations. Decorations can easily catch on fire that can quickly spread throughout your home. Also, keep your decorations such as stockings away from your fireplace, heat vents and other heat sources. Some products may contain flammable materials that can easily ignite a fire. If you have finished unwrapping your gifts, don’t burn the gift-wrapping paper in your fireplace. These papers tend to burn fast and hot that can spark a chimney fire.
Take Care of Your Christmas Tree
Christmas trees is another potential fire risk. To minimize fire risks, it is recommended to pick a live tree, rather than an artificial tree. But if do decide on an artificial tree, choose one that is fire-retardant. Also, don’t place the tree close to a fire source such as a fireplace. Even if it’s a live one, the heat may dry out the tree and cause a fire hazard. Keep it as far away as possible from the fireplace. Dispose of the tree in a safe manner. Never burn it in your fireplace or wood stove. The best thing to do is take it to a local recycling or treecycling center. Many communities also offer waste disposal for live Christmas trees. Another option that is gaining in popularity is choosing a live potted tree and decorating it for the holidays. After the holidays, you can plant the tree in your yard. It is a safe and eco-friendly option.
Holiday Lights Safety
Before installing any Christmas lights, be sure to look for any frayed or cracked wires, broken sockets or kinks in the wires. If you find there is an issue, don’t risk a fire; buy new lights. Also, avoid overloading your wall sockets. Overloaded electrical outlets can cause an electrical fire. It’s recommended that you use a high-quality extension cord to plug in your lights. Then connect the extension to the electrical outlet. Make sure you don’t exceed the recommended amps for your residence or you will blow a fuse. Fire safety experts recommend homeowners turn off their Christmas lights when retiring to bed for the evening or leaving the home. Christmas lights should not be left unattended.
Ensure Your Smoke and CO2 Detectors Are Working
Before the holiday season starts, test your smoke and CO2 detectors to ensure they’re in an excellent working condition. Even better — replace them with fresh new batteries. If you don’t have a CO2 (carbon monoxide) detector, we recommend you install one before lighting your fireplace for the holidays.
Fire prevention and safety is very important during the holidays. A celebration is a lot more fun and enjoyable when you know your family and guests are safe. Happy Holidays from your friends at FyrePro!