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Holiday Safety
As you celebrate this joyous
season, we ask that you remember the following safety precautions:
Christmas Trees
- When purchasing a live
tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are
hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers,
needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky
with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not
lose many needles.
- When setting up a tree
at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators, or portable
heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not
block doorways.
- Cut a few inches off
the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for
better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from
drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
- Be sure to keep the
stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees
out rapidly.
- When purchasing an
artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
Lights
- Before using lights
outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for
outdoor use. To hold lights in place, we recommend purchasing
plastic holders designed for this purpose. As an alternative,
string them through hooks or insulated staples. Never use nails
or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
- Check all tree
lights—even if you've just purchased them—before hanging them on
your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no
frayed wires, broken sockets, or loose connections.
- Plug all outdoor
electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCI) to avoid potential shocks.
- Always turn off all
holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
Decorations
- Use only
non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.
- Never use lighted
candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use
non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be
knocked down.
- In homes with small
children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp
or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of
the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling
small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food
that may tempt a young child to eat them.
- Wear gloves to avoid
eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel
hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung
irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
- Remove all wrapping
papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace
areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose choking and
suffocation risks to children, and they can easily catch fire.
They should be disposed of in your recycling bin, not burned in
the fireplace.
Toy Safety
- Select toys to suit the
age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
- Before buying a toy or
allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a
gift, read the instructions carefully.
- To prevent both burns
and electrical shocks, don't give young children (under age 10)
a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead,
buy toys that are battery-operated.
- Children under age 3
can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government
regulations specify that toys for children under age 3 cannot
have parts less than 1-1/4 inches in diameter and 2-1/4 inches
long.
- Watch for pull toys
with strings that are more than 12 inches in length as they can
be a strangulation hazard for babies.
Happy Visiting
- Clean up immediately
after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on
leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
- Remember that the homes
you visit may not be childproofed.
- Keep a laminated list
with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are
likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and
fire department (always call 911 if it’s an emergency), your
pediatrician, and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.
- Traveling, visiting
family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all
increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your
child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of
naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce
stress.
Fireplaces
- Before lighting any
fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations
from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
- Do not burn wrapping
papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings
ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Click here for
Safety Tips.Past Monthly
Safety Messages:
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: October is Disaster Preparedness Month
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland/Vegetation Fires
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Use Caution with Turkey Fryers
Monthly Safety Message: Tips for Halloween Trick-or-Treating
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: 4th of July Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Defensible Space
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: Move Right for Sirens & Lights
Monthly Safety Message: Saving A Life…Heart Attack & Stroke
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Fireplace, Wood Stove, & Space Heaters
Monthly Safety Message: Candle Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland Fire Safety Tips
Monthly Safety Message: Water Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Rags & Ashes — Caution Required
Monthly Safety Message: Change your Smoke Detector Battery
Monthly Safety Message: How to Survive a Fire in Your Home
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