Once Thanksgiving has passed, many families begin decorating the home for the holidays. Follow these basic safety guidelines to help prevent electrical and fire hazards related to the use of live and artificial trees. Our thanks to the Electrical Safety Foundation International for these important holiday decorating safety tips!
- Test all smoke alarms. Replace the batteries or the smoke alarm if it is not working properly.
- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. Fresh trees are less of a fire hazard than a dry tree.
- Cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk immediately before placing in stand. Fill with water immediately.
- Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water daily.
- With an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” This indicates that the tree is more resistant to burning.
- Plan the placement of lights so that no more than three strands are strung together (unless using LEDs).
- Don’t use electrical ornaments or light strings on artificial trees with metallic leaves or branch coverings.
- Place your tree at least 3 feet away from all heat sources, including fireplaces, radiators, and space heaters.
- When trimming a tree, only use non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.
- Inspect all electrical decorations and replace any that are cracked, frayed, or have other breaks in the insulation of any wires.
As the holiday season gets underway, we wish you and your family a happy and safe season of celebrating with family and friends!
