The holidays are a time for gathering with family and friends. Unfortunately, this season is also the time of year that many fire-related accidents occur. Preventing these incidents is easy when you make a habit of practicing fire safety for the holidays.
Fire Safety Tips For the Holidays
1. Turn off Holiday Lights When You’re Away
String lights are a leading cause of house fires during the holiday season. It may seem harmless to leave them on overnight or if you’re heading to the store for a couple of items, but fires start and spread in a short amount of time, so it’s important to turn off decorative lights when you’re sleeping or away.
2. Fire Safety for The Holidays Means Not Overloading Electrical Outlets
Overloading electrical outlets causes problems as minor as blowing a fuse in your home, but it could also lead to a house fire. When using traditional light strands, string no more than three together. Most circuits can handle up to 20 modern LED strands.
3. Keep Holiday Décor Away From Heat Sources
Installing your holiday decorations within three feet of any heat source puts your family, yourself, and your home in danger. Keep your décor away from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, and heating ducts.
4. Water Your Tree Often
When a tree gets dried out, it becomes a fire hazard. If the tree lights get too hot, they could easily set fire to dry pine needles and branches. To help prevent a fire, add water to the tree stand each morning and each night before you go to bed.
5. Fire Safety for the Holidays: Use Care with Live Flame
Candles and open flames add to the holiday mood. But be sure to use them with care, especially around the tree. Real candles may be beautiful, but they are a fire hazard if left to burn unattended. Teach children to stay away from open flames and extinguish candles before leaving the house or going to bed. Even better, choose battery-operated LED candles instead.
6. Keep Children Out of the Kitchen
When kids are excited about the holidays, it can be difficult to keep them out of the kitchen. Many severe burns occur during the holidays due to mishaps around the stove. Have another adult present to watch the kids while you’re preparing meals and never leave food that’s cooking unattended.
7. Test Your Smoke Alarms
Even when you practice all of the fire safety tips for the holidays, accidents do happen. Make sure you have working smoke detectors placed properly throughout your home. These life-saving devices alert you and your family to a house fire, giving you time to escape safely.
Final Thoughts on Fire Safety For the Holidays
More house fires occur during the holiday season than at any other time of the year, so keep your family and home safe this holiday season by following these fire safety tips.
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