Holiday Safety Tips

The holidays bring with them new opportunities for danger...more home fires are reported from candle fires, tree fires, and electrical fires during the winter holiday season than any other time of year. Why? This is when we overload electrical circuits with one too many extension cords; we place candles too close to flammable objects; and we let our fresh evergreens (trees, roping, wreaths and loose greens) get too dry and too near heat sources. Here are some helpful holiday tips to consider:

1. Candle safety: a) Never place burning candles near fabric, like curtains, napkins, tablecloths, etc. b) Never leave a candle burning in an unoccupied room...be sure you extinguish that flame before you retire to another room. c) Watch the candle, keep the wicks trimmed, and blow it out before it can "burn itself out". d) Don't place candles among live greens, never place them in a christmas tree, and use caution around garlands and roping. e) keep buring candles away from children
2. Electrical cautions: 1) don't overload your circuits, avoid using cube taps and other devices that allow you to plug too many items into one outlet. If that outlet feels warm to the touch, you have overloaded it! It is no longer safe. 2) don't plug more than 50 screw in lights into one outlet, and don't plug more than 3 strings of push in lights into the same outlet. 3) use caution outdoors with extension cords...keep them off sidewalks, and away from door entrances where ice, shovels, or snow removal equipment can potentially become entangled. 4) Be sure to unplug your tree and other lights when leaving the home or retiring for the night. It is never safe to leave your decorations illuminated when you are not there to oversee the functioning of these items.
3. Other holiday cautions: a) be careful with fireplaces; never burn dry greens or wrapping paper in your fireplace. The tars and chemicals in these items can damage your chimney. Dispose of these items properly. b) Do not set your dry Christmas tree next to your buildings or structures after discarding it. Take it out to the street and away from the property. This highly flammable object can start a fire in seconds. c) Use caution when preparing holiday meals...don't leave items on the stove to warm for long periods or use your oven to heat NON oven proof items.
4. Take a few moments to document your holiday decorations and how you move and arrange things differently during this holiday season. So many people don't do that and it makes filing any kind of claim very difficult.

Be safe this holiday season, and if you'd like more tips, be sure to consult the book "I Survived a House Fire...I Wish My stuff Had!