Question: Is your home fire safe for the holidays?
(Credit to Andrew Beckett, Ready Wisconsin
Options:
- We are keeping our home safe by following ALL these precautions
- We are keeping our home safe by following SOME of these precautions
- Thanks for the info; I will give this some thought
Description:
As families decorate their homes for the holiday season, we urge everyone to keep fire safety in mind. While decorations can help brighten up the holidays for many people, it’s important to ensure they are installed correctly, so they don’t become a hazard to your safety or home.
With both live and artificial Christmas trees, it’s important to take extra safety precautions when placing them inside your home. It only takes a few seconds for a tree to ignite into a large blaze. Never place a live tree close to a heat source, such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks. Be sure to water your live Christmas tree every day.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical problems cause one of every four Christmas tree fires. Ensure you inspect holiday lights annually and replace string lights that have worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for limits on the number of light strands that can be connected. Remember, some lights are for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
Regarding holiday lights, it’s not uncommon to find a shortage of outlets to plug everything in. While it may be tempting, avoid overloading electrical outlets. Do not link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Always check the light strands while those decorations are in use. If they are warm to the touch, unplug and remove them. Be sure to turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when going to bed or leaving the house. Unplug extension cords when they are not in use.
Most home fires caused by candles occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and ensure they are kept at least 12 inches away from things that can burn. Instead of lighting real candles, consider using battery-operated flameless candles - that way, you won’t need to worry about forgetting to blow them out or the candle being accidentally knocked over by pets or children.
To help alert you to fire danger, ensure you have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home. Test them monthly. Keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries. Know when and how to call for help, and remember to practice your home escape plan.
If you have other tips, share them below in the comments, and kindly repost this message to your neighbors on Nextdoor by clicking the "Share" button/arrow below and then "Repost in newsfeed."
Which option below best describes how you are keeping your home safe?
Happy Holidays!
Photo credit, Element 5 Digital - element5-digital-VXlUgmI6ToE-unsplash
