Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to climb in the attic and grab those dusty boxes filled with broken ornaments and a tangled ball of lights, and heave them down to whoever is daring enough to stand below. Time to drive down to your local tree farm an pick out a "beaut" of a tree. If you are feeling extraordinarily adventurous, maybe opt for the family outing into the wood to chop down your own. However you start this winter off, remember some safety tips that will keep you and your family in good spirits.
Your Glorious Tree
-If you are purchasing an artificial tree, make sure to chose a tree with a fire resistant safety rating.
-If you are bringing home a real tree, make sure that it is moist and green. Freshness is key. It should not lose many needles when tapped on ground or shaken. The trunk should also be moist and sticky with resin.
-Choose your trees location carefully. Make sure that it is far enough away from heaters and fireplaces, as this tends to dry the tree out quicker causing it to become a fire hazard. Also, make sure it's out of heavy foot traffic and not blocking any exits.
Lights on the Town
-Check to make sure that all old and new lights do not contain any frayed wires or broken plugs.
-Use no more than three standard lights on one extension cord at a time.
-Make sure that all outdoor lights are fastened securely to trees, house walls, or other firm standing support to avoid wind damage.
-Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
-Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) for added protection against electric shock for outdoor lighting and decorations.
Decorations Galore
- Keep all decorations and tree trimming out of reach small children and pets.
-Make sure all open-flames are properly secured and in non-flammable holders.
Fireplace Safety
- Do not remove fire embers or ash. If you do make sure to place them in a metal container with a lid and cover with water.
-Do not burn wrapping paper in a fire. The type of products used to create the papers could cause a flash fire, igniting suddenly and burning intensely.
Keep safe this winter and check back next Wednesday for our next wintery topic!
- nches 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 and radiators.
Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not
block doorways.
Lights
-
Indoors or outside, only use lights that have been tested for safety by
a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards.
-
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed
or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
-
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension
cord.
-
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged
with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could
be electrocuted.
-
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm
supports
to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not
nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights
through
hooks (available at hardware stores).
-
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could
short out and start a fire.
-
For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and
decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters
(GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical
supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household
circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations
-
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose
tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials
are hazardous if ingested by children.
-
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 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.
Fireplaces
-
Do not remove fireplace embers or ash, or if you do, place them in a
metal container with a lid and cover them with water. Do not place them
in a plastic or paper bag or other container that is not fire-resistant.
Do not dispose of them indoors or close to your home or another
structure.
-
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on
wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal
irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
-
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as
wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Read more on FamilyEducation:
http://fun.familyeducation.com/december-holidays/safety/29690.html#ixzz2Da7O6RE2
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate
the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
-
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 and radiators.
Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not
block doorways.
Lights
-
Indoors or outside, only use lights that have been tested for safety by
a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards.
-
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed
or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
-
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension
cord.
-
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged
with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could
be electrocuted.
-
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm
supports
to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not
nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights
through
hooks (available at hardware stores).
-
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could
short out and start a fire.
-
For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and
decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters
(GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical
supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household
circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations
-
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose
tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials
are hazardous if ingested by children.
-
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 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.
Fireplaces
-
Do not remove fireplace embers or ash, or if you do, place them in a
metal container with a lid and cover them with water. Do not place them
in a plastic or paper bag or other container that is not fire-resistant.
Do not dispose of them indoors or close to your home or another
structure.
-
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on
wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal
irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
-
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as
wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Read more on FamilyEducation:
http://fun.familyeducation.com/december-holidays/safety/29690.html#ixzz2Da6P2ujd
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate
the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
-
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 and radiators.
Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not
block doorways.
Lights
-
Indoors or outside, only use lights that have been tested for safety by
a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards.
-
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed
or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
-
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension
cord.
-
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged
with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could
be electrocuted.
-
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm
supports
to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not
nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights
through
hooks (available at hardware stores).
-
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could
short out and start a fire.
-
For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and
decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters
(GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical
supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household
circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations
-
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose
tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials
are hazardous if ingested by children.
-
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 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.
Fireplaces
-
Do not remove fireplace embers or ash, or if you do, place them in a
metal container with a lid and cover them with water. Do not place them
in a plastic or paper bag or other container that is not fire-resistant.
Do not dispose of them indoors or close to your home or another
structure.
-
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on
wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal
irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
-
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as
wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Read more on FamilyEducation:
http://fun.familyeducation.com/december-holidays/safety/29690.html#ixzz2Da6P2ujd
