Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather ChannelSafety and Security Published 10/19/2006 by Danny Lipford
The Holiday Season is a time of joy, but unfortunately it can also be a dangerous time for many. Every year about eight thousand people are treated for injuries resulting from accidents related to holiday decorating or decorations. Christmas trees alone are involved in more than four hundred fires each year. Decorating with safety in mind can help keep you from becoming one of those statistics.
If a real tree is part of your decorating, make sure it’s as fresh as possible. A dry tree becomes a potential pile of kindling in your living room. The needles on a fresh tree will bend instead of breaking and should not pull off of the branches easily. To make sure it stays fresh keep the stand filled with water (as much as a gallon every day) and locate the tree away from fireplaces, radiators and space heaters. If you’re choosing an artificial tree, look for a “Fire Resistant” label before making your purchase.
Holiday lights can not only present a fire hazard but also pose the risk of electric shock. Select only lights that have been tested by a reputable testing laboratory to ensure that they conform to safety standards. Even if lights have been tested, they can become unsafe if used improperly or if they are damaged. Check every strand for broken bulbs, cracked sockets or frayed wires. If any damage at all is apparent discard the lights. Invariably, extension cords will be needed to put the lights where you want them so choose them carefully as well. Never connect more than three standard sized sets of lights to a single extension cord, and, when possible, connect them to a circuit that is protected with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI.) An electrician can install an outlet equipped with a GFCI, or you can purchase a portable unit that connects to an existing outlet. The GFCI will sense any short circuit, or fault, that occurs and interrupt the flow of voltage to prevent the risk of serious shock or fire. Avoid using metal fasteners (like nails or tacks) to secure outdoor lights. Instead use the plastic clips, hooks or insulated cable staples available at home centers and hardware stores. An inexpensive plug-in timer is a good investment, not only to turn the lights on but also to make sure they go off before you go to bed. It’s also a good idea to turn the lights off when you’re away from home.
Fireplaces and mantels seem to be a natural for holiday decorations. However, stockings and other combustible decorations can be a hazard if the fireplace is actually in use. Also resist the urge to burn wrapping paper or pine boughs in the fireplace as their floating embers can escape your chimney and ignite your roof or a neighboring roof. Candles can also add a cozy touch to your home during the holidays, but they too should be used with caution. Make sure the candles are contained in sturdy, non-combustible holders and placed well away from other flammable decorations. A red candle surrounded by green pine boughs may look attractive, but it’s also an invitation for a fire. When candles are lit don’t leave them unattended, especially if children are in the house, and check them frequently to make sure they don’t burn down too far.
Even if you follow all of the precautions there is still the chance of a fire so be sure your home has a working smoke detector on every floor. The National Fire Protection Association reports that about 22 million homes have non-working alarms due to dead or missing batteries. Homeowners often remove the batteries to silence a false alarm (from burned toast or a steamy shower) and never replace them. To combat this practice First Alert has introduced a new smoke alarm that can be silenced or tested using any household remote control. The unit also distinguishes between rising and dissipating smoke conditions to analyze the level of threat and respond accordingly. The company has also incorporated this remote control technology into a carbon monoxide alarm. A carbon monoxide alarm should also be located on each floor of the home to ensure that your family is safe for the holidays.
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