| Christmas Tree Safety
Tips |
To help keep your family
safe, we recommend the following safety tips:
- When you buy your tree, have the vendor make a fresh cut
an inch from the bottom; this will help the tree drink.
- If you buy your tree early and keep it outside, store
it away from wind and sun, and keep the bottom in a bucket
of water.
- Make sure your lights are safe. If you need outdoor lights,
make sure the ones you buy are meant for outdoor use. Make
sure your lights carry certification from a testing laboratory.
- Don't use electric lights on a metal tree.
- Discard any strings of lights that are frayed or broken.
Christmas lights are cheap.
- Unplug your Christmas tree before you leave or go to bed.
- Don't buy a tree that is dry and dropping needles. To
check for freshness, loosely grip the end of a branch and
pull your hand over it. Only a few needles should fall off.
- Make sure your tree stand holds plenty of water, and don't
let it run out.
- If your tree seems wobbly, center it in the stand more
securely and redo the bolts or screws. Of if your tree stand
is cheap, buy a larger, stronger one.
- If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it is fire-retardant.
- Keep your tree at least three feet from furnaces, radiators
and fireplaces.
try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running
long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
- When Christmas is over or when the tree starts to drop
needles, dispose of it. Don't leave it in your house or
put it in your garage.
- Keep a close eye on small children when they are around
the tree; many small decorations and ornaments are sharp,
breakable and can be swallowed.
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| Christmas Lights |
Indoors
- Only buy Christmas lights marked with a safety standard.
- Check all connections on Christmas lights, and ensure
that all electrical work (plugs, etc) are carried out by
a competent person.
- If you are using lights from previous years examine the
wiring to ensure they are not worn. If in doubt throw them
out.
- Don't overload sockets.
- Unplug all Christmas lights and electrical appliances
before leaving your home or going to bed at night.
Outdoors
- If using lights outdoors ensure they are suitable for
outdoor use.
- If reusing outdoor lights check all wiring and throw
them out if worn.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing
outdoor lights.
- Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down
to avoid moisture build up.
- Never use indoor extension leads outside.
- Keep outdoor electrical connections above ground and
out of puddles and snow.
- If you have to replace a light bulb unplug the light
string beforehand.
- Ensure trees hung with Christmas lights are not touching
power lines.
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| Gift Ideas |
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Consider some smoke alarms as good stocking fillers for
friends and family this Christmas, and install them if giving
them to an older person
A fire extinguisher and fire blanket
A flashlight and batteries
A first-aid kit
A carbon monoxide detector
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| Other Holiday Safety
Tips |
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Never burn Christmas wrapping paper in your fireplace.
Keep strings of Christmas cards well away from candles
and open fires.
Fit a spark guard to all open fires to prevent burning
coals and sparks from falling onto rugs.
Extinguish cigarettes properly and do not let ashtrays
get overfilled.
Check that your existing smoke alarms are in perfect working
order - fit new batteries if necessary
NEVER remove batteries from your smoke alarm to use in
your children's Christmas toys or in the TV remote control.
Smoke alarms are there to save your life in the event of fire
outbreak.
Clean the oven and stove prior to Christmas. Often the
extra load on these appliances causes a fire due to the high
usage and consequent build up of grease.
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