Tips for Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
The holidays are meant to be peaceful and bright, but they can often be stressful and hectic. This season can be wonderful, but it can also be one of the most dangerous times of the year in terms of household accidents and injuries.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 30% of residential fires and 38% of deaths in home fires occur in December, January, and February. Consider these statistics:
- An average of 1,550 cooking fires are on Thanksgiving Day, making it the No. 1 day of the year for home fires
- From 2009-2013, fire departments responded to an annual average of 210 home fires that were caused by Christmas trees
- Electrical failures or malfunctions caused 30% of Christmas tree fires; an estimated 18% involved decorative lights, 12% involved wiring and 5% involved plugs.
- 40% of Christmas tree fires occur in January when the holidays are over
Here are some valuable tips to help prevent turning this season into a time of heartache and hardship:
- Open candle flames account for many home fires. Therefore, keep candles in a safe holder so they won’t get knocked over. Also, keep them away from anything flammable and make sure the flame is out when you leave the room
- Keep live trees well-watered to avoid drying out
- Replace any string of lights that are worn or have broken cords or loose bulb connections
- Don’t overload electrical outlets; don’t connect more than three strands of lights together
- Choose artificial trees and decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant
- Place the tree at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights
- Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use. Be sure to use the appropriate lights.
- Remove the tree after Christmas. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard, so do not leave them in the home or garage, or place them outside again the home.
- Keep a working fire extinguisher on each floor of your home
- Test your smoke alarms on a regular basis; change the batteries twice a year
- Keep children and pets away from lit candles
- Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet and away from children
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. If you have to leave the kitchen even for a short time, turn off the stove top burners until you return.
- Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed
- Keep the stovetop clean; food spills can quickly ignite and take special care when cooking foods in oil
- Keep pan lids or baking soda nearby when cooking to quickly smother a pan or stove-top fire. Never use water on a grease or oil fire.
- Have your chimney cleaned and inspected regularly by someone certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Anderson Brothers Steamatic, a cleaning and restoration service provider for almost 50 years, would like to wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable holiday season! Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you in 2016!