As you decorate your house for the holiday season, remember the following statistics: According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates, there are more than 14,000 candle-related fires each year, resulting in about 170 deaths and $350 million in property loss; dried-out Christmas trees are involved in about 200 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, and about $10 million in property damage; and during November and December about 10,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms because of falls, cuts, shocks, and burns related to holiday decorating.
To keep your children safe during this special time of year, the CPSC has issued the following holiday safety tips:
Trees and Decorations:
● Look for the label “Fire Resistant” when you buy an artificial tree. It doesn’t mean the tree won’t catch fire, just that it is more resistant to burning.
● Check for freshness when buying a live tree. The tree should be green with needles that are hard to pull from branches and that don’t break when you bend them. The bottom of the tree should be sticky with resin, and should not lose many needles when tapped on the ground.
● When setting up a live tree, keep it away from fireplaces and radiators and make sure its stand is filled with water to stop it from drying out quickly. Keep it from busy parts of the room, such as entryways and doorways.
● When decorating the tree, use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials, and make sure tinsel and artificial icicles are made from plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous to children and pets if swallowed.
● Avoid sharp or breakable decorations; remove trimmings with small removable parts (children could swallow or inhale them); and don’t use trimmings that resemble candy or food (children may want to eat them).
● When decorating with spun glass “angel hair,” wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation.
● When using artificial snow sprays, follow the directions carefully to avoid lung irritation.
Lights:
● Only use lights that have been tested for safety by UL or ETL/ITSNA, nationally-recognized testing laboratories. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
● Check each set of new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Do NOT use damaged sets; throw them out.
If using an extension cord, make sure it is rated for the intended use (do not use interior cords for outside).
● Never use electric lights on a metallic tree because faulty lights can make the tree charged with electricity and can electrocute a person or animal.
● For outdoor lights, ONLY use strands certified for outdoor use and ONLY plug them into ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles or portable GFCI.
● To prevent fires, turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
Candles:
● Keep burning candles within your sight; never put them in unseen areas.
● Keep lighted candles away from flammable items such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains, and furniture.
● Always use non-flammable holders.
● Keep candles from areas where children and/or pets play or walk regularly.
● Blow out all candles before going to bed or leaving the room or house.
Fireplaces:
● Use extra care with “fire salts,” products that create colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that, if eaten, can cause serious stomach issues for kids and animals.
● Do not burn wrapping paper or plastic items in the fireplace because they ignite suddenly and burn intensely, possibly resulting in a flash fire.
Place a screen around your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby flammable materials.
Here are some holiday decorating items that have issued recall notices, according to the CPSC: