Thursday, November 15, 2012

20 Tips to Keep Safe this Holiday Season

By Jared Plasky

Fake versus Real Christmas Trees
  • When using a real tree make sure the needles are fresh and attached to the tree. Lose needles can hurt small children and animals.
  • Make sure your tree is properly watered; a dry tree can be a fire hazard.
  • For an artificial tree, make sure it’s fire resistant.
  • Keep any tree away from heat sources or open flames.



Lights and Plugs for Indoors and Outdoors
  • Use extension cords when necessary, don’t try and stretch lights.
  • Make sure all lights and outlets are safety tested and approved by plugging and unplugging to test.
  • Do not bind more than three strands of cords together at once; it can be a tripping hazard.
  • Make sure all cords aren't frayed and all bulbs are attached to designated spots, this can be an extreme hazard.
  • Never leave your lights on while you’re asleep or out for long periods of time.
Fireplaces and Candles
  • Make sure your fireplace is cleaned out. A fire cleaning brick is best for ensuring safety.
  • Keep any stockings, hanging decorations or garland above fireplace, and out of the way of sparks.
  • Make sure you have working fire alarms and extinguishers.
  • Make sure all candle wicks are cared for properly, i.e. (trimming them).


Ornaments & Small Decorations
  • Make sure no decorations have fallen off the tree as they can be a tripping hazard.
  • Keep easy to swallow and breakable ornaments out of the grasp of children or animals.
  • Older ornaments run the risk of having old lead based paint, it might be best to replace these with new ornaments.



Outdoor Decorations
  • Make sure to use a safe ladder while decorating your roof.
  • Be careful while walking on the roof. Hazards come in many forms such as loose roofing or ice.
  • Do not staple or nail through any wires.
  • Make sure the lights you are using are specifically made for the outdoors.




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