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Holiday Safety Decorating Tips - November
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Indoor
holiday lighting tips:
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Buy/use only
lighting sets and extension cords that bear the
Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual
(FM) label and are specifically marked for indoor
use.
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Make certain
you take time unroll/untangle and inspect each set of lights
—new or old— worn insulation, bare/frayed wires, lights with
broken/cracked sockets, and loose connections. If you find
broken strings, do not try to repair the string.
Throw it away. Replace broken/damaged lamps/bulbs. (and
unplug the set prior to changing lamps/bulbs!)
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Be careful
not to overload electrical outlets. Always look for the
manufacturer's recommendations on the number of lights
strings that can be strung together and other precautions
listed on the packaging for the lights. If no manufacturer's
instructions are available, as a general rule, never string
more than three sets of lights per single extension
cord.
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Protect the
electrical wires from damage. Don't run lights/wires behind
drapes, under carpet, through doorways, or where they will
be walked on. Don't not use nails or tacks to hang wires.
Plastic, not-conductive "hangers" are available in stores
for various holiday light-set hanging needs.
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Always
unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.
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Outdoor
lighting considerations:
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Buy/use only
lighting sets and extension cords that bear the
Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual
(FM) label and are specifically marked for outdoor
use.
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Check all
light strings for fraying, aging, and heat damage. Throw
away any strings that show signs of damage.
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Connect
strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the
cord into an outlet.
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If you are
using a ladder, avoid contact with overhead power lines when
setting up your ladder, stringing lights, or working on the
roof.
Always test your light strings before setting up your ladder
—replacing broken/burnt-out bulbs is much easier on
the ground than on a ladder/roof!
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Wherever
extension cords and light strings are connected together
outdoors, keep the connections dry by wrapping them with
friction tape or plastic.
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Remember to
always look for the manufacturer's recommendations on the
number of lights strings that can be strung together and
other precautions listed on the packaging for the lights.
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Tree
Safety:
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Fresh Trees
—When selecting your tree, make sure to shake the tree
vigorously and watch for excessive loss of needles. If the
tree loses a lot of needles, it's already drying out, and a
dry tree significantly increases the risk of the tree
catching fire in your home. Fresh trees should be green and
the needles should be difficult to pull from the branches.
Another good test is to take a single needle and bend it
between your fingers. The needle should bend, not break.
Once you've selected a fresh tree and get it home, secure it
in a sturdy stand and provide it with adequate water. At
holiday time, many stores carry products designed to help
you keep track of when your tree needs water. Keeping your
tree well-watered will keep it supple so it retains its
needles, making for less cleanup after the holidays and a
lesser fire danger.
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Artificial
Trees
—If you're about to buy an artificial tree, the most
important thing to look for is the "Fire Resistant" label.
This means the tree has been treated with a chemical that
makes it resist burning — It does not mean the tree can't,
or won't, catch on fire. If your tree is metallic, don't use
electric lights on it — use spotlights for illumination.
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Greens
—Evergreen (no cedar) cuttings may be used in limited
quantities, but keep greens away from heat sources
(radiators, air vents, large appliances, light receptacles,
etc.) and don't smoke near trees or greens. To be as
safe as possible, greens/cuttings used for your door
adornment or for corridor/stairwell decorations (or
really for use anywhere other than as a table centerpiece)
should be flameproofed by flocking or other treatment.
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Tree
Lighting
—decorate the tree first, and then plug in the lights last.
Try and insure your lamps/bulbs don't touch the tree or
other decorations. Take time to unroll/untangle and
carefully inspect each set of lights before stringing it on
the tree. It's easier to find and replace broken and
burnt-out bulbs before stringing your lights on the
tree! (And if a light strand doesn't work at all, better
to know it before it's on the tree, too!)
Turn off or unplug your indoor holiday lighting off whenever
that area of the house is unattended. Nowadays, relatively
cheap wired and wireless "remote control" switches are
available to ease this task (and keep you from having to
crawl/bend behind a Christmas tree or furniture to unplug a
lighting set/scene. Outdoor lighting timers and
remote-control sets are also available and should be
considered.
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Live Tree &
Greens/cuttings Removal
— Live trees and greens/cuttings should be removed as soon
as practical after the holiday for which they were used.
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Candle
safety tips:
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Make sure
they are placed in sturdy, non-combustible holders that will
not tip, away from decorations , drapes, and other
combustible materials.
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Check your
candles frequently to make sure they don't burn down too far
or drip hot wax.
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Keep small
children away from candles and never leave children
unattended in a room with lit candles.
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Keep matches
and lighters up high out of the reach of children.
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Do not use
candles to decorate Christmas trees.
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Keep Yule
Logs, Menorahs and Kinaras away from drapes, trees or any
other potentially flammable objects.
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Extinguish
candles and turn off decorative lights before leaving home or
going to sleep.
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For holiday
decorating, you should purchase/use only materials labeled as
noncombustible, flame-resistant, or flame-retardant. Locate all
decorations and decorating materials away from heat sources.
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These materials
should never be used for holiday decorations, under any
circumstances, because they are inherently combustible or
cannot be flame proofed: bamboo, cedar trees/branches, corn
stalks/shucks, cotton or confetti (loose, in large
quantities), dry moss/leaves, flammable powders/liquids,
hay/straw (loose or baled), paper streamers
(serpentine), plastic sheeting/pellets, sawdust,
tumbleweeds, wood bark/shavings.
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Keep holiday
plants such as mistletoe, holly berries, and Christmas cactus,
away from children and pets.
Poinsettias —previously considered a poisonous plant,
recent studies have shown that the poinsettia is nontoxic.
Ingestion of small amounts may result in mild gastrointestinal
irritation (stomach problems) and could make pets very
sick.
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If you have
small children, avoid sharp/breakable decorations. Keep tinsel
and other small trimmings out of the reach of children. Avoid
using decorations that look like candy/food, as small children
may be tempted to eat them. Also, use caution when decorating
with spun-glass, "angel hair," or "bubble lights." —they can
cause injury if swallowed. Be sure that any artificial snow
and/or spray snow you use is labeled as nontoxic.
Have a
SAFE and happy holiday Season! |
