(BPT)-In the hustle and bustle of holidays, it is easy to overlook important safety tips-especially in places involving fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the fire department responded to an average of 950 home fires that started with decorations. Trees are not the only culprit.
To make this holiday more at ease, here are some tips that can help you keep your home and family safe.
1. Use flameless candles. December is the highest month for candle fires, and more than one-third of home decoration fires are caused by traditional wick candles. Fire safety experts strongly recommend the use of flameless candles that provide the same light but no fire hazard. If you use traditional wick candles:
2. Sturdy tree setting. Make sure to set up the tree on a sturdy tree stand to prevent any accidents, such as tipping over when a child or pet tries to play near it. To prevent fires, install your tree at least three feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, vents, or lights. For those who have living trees, add water to your tree stand every day so that it does not dry out.
3. Check and replace holiday lights. Before installing these lights, check and replace wires that show signs of wear or wear, broken wires, or loose bulb connections. Make sure to keep the power cord out of the reach of children (and pets that might bite them), and always turn off decorations and lights before going to bed or leaving home.
4. Select LED. Because LED lamps emit less heat than incandescent lamps, they pose a lower fire hazard. Choose LED lights that are approved by an accredited testing laboratory and use the lights only for their designated purposes-the lights are rated indoor, outdoor, or both.
5. Release the metal hook. For families with children and pets, consider giving up traditional metal decorative hooks and choosing fabric and rope hangers, which is a safer choice.
6. Hang stockings carefully. Everyone likes the look of the stockings on the mantelpiece. If you have a working fireplace, please buy fire-resistant decorations and remove them from the fireplace before lighting or turning on the gas stove.
7. Maintain the fireplace. It is important to take good safety measures for the fireplace. Not only for Santa Claus, but also for family (including pets). These chimneys are cleaned and inspected every year-before being ignited for the first time each year-and a safe area of about three feet in the area is cleared of any flammable materials.
8. Know when to say goodbye to your tree. If you want the holiday joy to continue, and still erect your tree after the new year... I'm sorry, it's time to kick it to the side of the road. It has probably dried up, which is a major fire hazard. Most Christmas tree fires actually happen after the holidays.
9. Be prepared for the snowy weather. If you lose power, be careful when using the generator, as this may be the main carbon monoxide (CO) hazard. Install the generator outdoors, at least 20 feet away from the home, and the exhaust outlet away from the house. Only run the generator in a well-ventilated and dry outdoor area, away from the air intake, and avoid direct exposure to rain and snow. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions when using the generator.
10. Understand the age of the alarm clock. Each smoke alarm must be replaced once in 10 years, and each CO alarm must be replaced between 7-10 years, depending on the model. If you have forgotten when the alarm was installed, there is a solution-check the manufacturing date and add the lifespan of the alarm. For example, a smoke alarm with a manufacturing date of April 14, 2012 should be replaced around April 2022. Consider installing alarms with built-in 10-year batteries that can send replacement signals, such as Kidde's worry-free living room, bedroom, corridor, and kitchen alarms and Kidde's worry-free carbon monoxide alarms. Available at The Home Depot, Amazon, Menards and Kidde.com.
For more information on fire and carbon monoxide safety, please visit KIDDE.com.
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