Christmas Safety Tips for Decorating

Trees

• When buying an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.”
• When buying a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are difficult to pull from branches, and needles do not break when bent between your fingers. The sawed end of the trunk of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut an inch off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly

Lights

• Check all tree lights–even if you have just purchased them–before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Don’t use the same extension cord for more than three strands of lights and turn off all lights before going to bed.
• When lighting candles, remove flammable materials from the area and never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Space heaters are involved in 79% of fatal home heating fires. If space heaters are in use, there should be a 3-foot open zone around them. Always turn off and unplug when unattended.

Decorations

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials, such as tinsel, to trim a tree
• 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 prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
• Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.
• Keep potentially poisonous holiday plant decorations, including mistletoe berries, Jerusalem cherry, and holly berry away from children.