Celebrate Safely this Holiday Season
With the holidays right around the corner, it is important to be mindful of fire safety so you and your loved ones can enjoy this season safely. During the holiday season, decorations, cooking and other fire hazards need to be managed with care to prevent fires.
Decorating with Fire Safety in Mind
Holiday decorations including Christmas trees, can be pretty to look at but need to be used safely. Some holiday decorating tips include:
- Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant
- Keep lit candles away from decorations
- Turn off all string lights before going to bed
- Blow out lit candles before going to bed or leaving the room
- Make sure Christmas trees are at least three feet away from any heat source
- Water your Christmas tree regularly
- Replace any string of lights that have worn or broken cords or loose light bulb connections
- Never use lit candles to decorate your Christmas tree
Prevent Holiday Cooking Fires
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Stay safe while doing your holiday cooking with these safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, or broiling food
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop
- Use a timer to remind yourself that food is cooking
- Don’t use the stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol
Fireplace Safety
During the winter holidays, it can be nice to get cozy by gathering around the fireplace. Here are some tips for using a fireplace safely:
- Keep things that can burn at least three feet from the flames
- Use a fire screen to keep embers from escaping
- Make sure all embers are extinguished before going to bed
- Have your fireplace or wood stove inspected before you use it
Test Smoke Detectors & Know Fire Escape Plan
Before having guests over for the holidays, you should test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in working order. Replace the batteries if they are dead. Make sure guests in your home are aware of the fire escape plan so they know what to do in an emergency.
The holidays are a joyful time of the year. It is important that fire safety is practiced so that you and your family remain safe during this season. For more holiday fire safety tips, check out the NFPA’s website!