Holiday Safety Tips


Table of Contents
Christmas Trees
Artificial Snow
Decorative Lights
Candles and Votives
Holiday Decorations and Trimmings
The Fireplace
Portable and Other Space Heaters
Wood Stoves
Holiday Cooking
Wrapping Paper
Children's Toys
Home Security
General Rules For Holiday Safety

Christmas Trees
  • Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.
  • A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember:
 

A fresh tree is green.

 

Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches.

 

When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.

  The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.
  When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that the tree is too dry.
  • Place trees away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry out trees too rapidly, creating fire hazards.
  • Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away branches as necessary to set the tree trunk in the base of a sturdy, water-holding stand with widespread feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors.
  • Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin guy wires to secure a large tree to the walls or ceiling. These wires are almost invisible.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher handy in the tree area.
  • Be sure to discard the tree well away from your home, not even with the trash until you can properly dispose of it.
  • Remove the tree promptly if it becomes dry.
Artificial Snow
  • Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels; follow directions carefully.
Decorative Lights
  • Inside or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
  • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect them from wind damage.
  • Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
  • Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and cause a fire.
  • Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a metallic tree, never fastened onto it!
  • Keep "bubbling" lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped lights. The resulting broken glass is dangerously sharp and allows the escape of the liquid which contains a hazardous chemical.
  • Automatic lighting timers can be used to ensure that lights are not left on. These are available for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Candles and Votives
  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.
  • Always use nonflammable holders.
  • Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.
  • Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
  • Never leave burning candles unattended.
  • Always keep burning candles up high, out of the reach of children.
Holiday Decorations and Trimmings
  • Use only noncombustible or flame-resistant materials. Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass "angel hair" to avoid irritation to the eyes and skin.
  • Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
  • 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. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled.

 

Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child could eat them!

 

The Fireplace
  • Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from the fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
  • Before closing the flue, be sure that the fire is out completely.
  • Use care with "fire salts" which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals which can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
  • Install at least one carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in your home.
  • Have your chimney inspected at least once a year and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not properly cleaned.
  • Always use a fire screen and only burn material appropriate for fireplaces. Avoid burning trash or paper which can float up the chimney and onto the roof or yard.
  • Remove ashes in a metal container. Ashes should be removed from the home because they may rekindle.
Portable and Other Space Heaters
  • Place all space heaters at least 36 inches away from flammable materials, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets, and people.
  • Do not leave space heaters unattended or in use while sleeping.
  • Never place articles for drying over space heaters.
  • Check electrical space heaters for fraying or splitting wires and overheating.
  • Let a professional repair person correct all problems before operating the space heater.
  • Always use the proper fuel for liquid fueled heaters. The wrong fuel could burn hotter than the equipments design limits. Be sure the heater is properly vented. Refill them in well-ventilated areas and only when they are cool.
  • All space heaters should bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.
Wood Stoves
  • Be sure the wood stove bears the label of a recognized testing laboratory and meets local fire codes.
  • Inspect all chimney connections and chimney flues each heating season and clean them periodically.
  • Burn only wood and be sure the wood stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and hot coals.
Holiday Cooking
  • Avoid loose-fitting clothing when cooking such as long open sleeves which can easily be ignited by hot burners.
  • Never leave the kitchen unattended when something is cooking on the stove. Always turn pot handles inward to prevent small children from reaching a hot pan.
  • Don't store items on the stove top - they could catch fire.
  • Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition. Turn off appliances after use.
  • Don't overload electrical outlets. Check appliances for frayed or cracked wires. Do not use electrical appliances in or near water.
  • Be sure the kitchen is well ventilated or keep a window cracked to help prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide from gas cooking appliances.
  • Equip the kitchen area with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
  • Use chafing dishes with caution.
Wrapping Paper
  • When making paper decorations, look for materials labeled noncombustible or flame-resistant.
  • Never place trimmings near open flames or electrical connections.
  • Remove all wrapping paper from the tree and fireplace areas immediately after presents are opened.
  • Do not burn papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Children's Toys
  • Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children may become entangled. Remove crib gyms from the crib once the child can pull up on hands and knees; some children have strangled when they fell on crib gyms stretched across the crib.
  • The law requires the following label on boxes of explosive caps producing noise above a certain level: "WARNING--Do not fire closer to the ear than one foot. Do not use indoors."
  • Broken toys may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside, which could cut or stab if exposed. Even a toy as simple as a balloon, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate a young child. More children have suffocated on uninflated and broken balloons than on any other type of toy.
  • Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that has sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups, or other protective tips intended to prevent injury.
  • Children should be taught how to use electric toys properly, and adult supervision is advisable because electric toys can shock or burn if they are improperly constructed, incorrectly wired, or abused.
  • Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones.
  • Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. On wooden toys, sand any surfaces that may have become splintered or edges that have become sharp. When repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using leftover paint unless it was purchased recently. Older paints may contain more lead than new paint.
  • Teach children to put their toys away safely on reachable shelves or in a toy chest. Toy boxes, too, should be checked for safety. Use a toy chest with a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised, and will not fall on a child unexpectedly.
Home Security
  • Use lighting liberally on the interior and exterior of your home. Consider installing outdoor motion-sensitive lights. Use lighting timers when away from home in the evening..
  • Prune shrubs away from windows and doors. Remove tree limbs that could allow a thief access to a second-story window.
  • Never hide house keys in a mailbox, planter or under a mat.
  • When leaving home for a few days, have deliveries of papers, mail etc. suspended or ask a reliable neighbor to collect them while you are away.
  • Avoid leaving messages on your phone answering machine that lets callers know you will be away from home.
  • When moving into a home or apartment, have all exterior locks rekeyed.
  • Regularly inspect all door and window locks for wear.
  • Locksets fitted with dead latches (small brass elements that ride on the face of the latch) prevent jimmying with plastic strips or credit cards.
  • Entry doors should have extra-security deadbolts with full 1-inch bolts, preferably all-steel and brass construction with a cylinder guard. Remember this includes the back door, garage door and the patio door. Consider buying the same brand of deadbolt in order to have them all keyed alike.
  • For doors with glass panels within three feet of the lock, use a double-cylinder deadbolt. These require key operation from both sides.

Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.

Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.

Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do.

PRACTICE THE PLAN!

Avoid wearing loose fitting clothes, particularly long, open sleeves, near open flames-such as those of a fireplace, stove, or candlelit table.

Never burn candles near evergreens. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous. When dry, evergreens burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of control and send sparks flying into a room or up the chimney to ignite creosote deposits.

Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connections.

Be familiar with the operation of each type of fire extinguisher in the home.

Purchase fire extinguishers that are designed to put out the types of fires most likely to occur in the areas where they are located. Extinguishers are rated for specific classes of fires such as grease or electrical shock.

For Further Information contact:
U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission
Office of Information & Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
1-800-638-2772
info@cpsc.gov
gopher://cpsc.gov

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