Winter Is Coming
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Here are some holiday safety tips to keep you safe as you enjoy the holidays:
- Merry and Bright: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the light string and be sure to match voltage and wattage to the original bulb.
- Lights Out: Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
- Fresh Is Best: Try to purchase a freshly cut tree, as they’re more resistant to ignition. Keep your Christmas tree watered and away from open candles.
- Fake it! If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled “fire resistant.” Fire-resistant trees are less susceptible to catching fire.
- Work as a team: When stringing lights and decorations above your normal reach, be sure to use a proper ladder with someone supporting the base.
- The Great Outdoors: When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place.
- Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace: Paper burns very hot, which can ignite a fire in any residue in your chimney or the chase. Instead, recycle (or better yet, reuse!) your wrapping paper. And, have your chimney professionally cleaned prior to use.
- Prevent electrical cord damage. Don’t mount lights in a way that might damage the cords, and avoid using nails or tacks. Use hooks or insulated staples instead.
- Secure candles. Keep candles on a sturdy base to prevent tipping. Never leave a lit candle unattended.
- Keep the Gas Behind Glass: Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked, or broken, and only allow a qualified service person to replace fireplace parts.
- Use unbreakable ornaments: If you have fragile ornament, place them out of reach of pets and kids.
- Sound the Alarm: Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work, and be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home — especially near sleeping areas.
- Skip the fake food: Avoid decorations that look like candy or food if you have young children or pets in the house.
- Beware of poisonous plants: While festive, poinsettias are poisonous when eaten, so keep them out of reach of kids and pets.
- Friendly Furnace: To help prevent carbon monoxide hazards in your home, have a qualified professional perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system. Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating seasons.
- Clean the Clutter: Don’t store combustible materials near your tree, furnace or block furnace vents. Think of your friendly local firefighters when you’re decorating near front doors and ensure there is ample room for us to move in/out of your front entrance, without bumping into Frosty the Snowman!
And…if you see our big red trucks coming down the highway with lights flashing; pull over, STOP, and let us get quickly and safely to a neighbor in need!
Until next month, stay safe and happy holidays!
