It’s easy to get distracted during the holiday season when we’re off our regular routines – children are out of school and family or friends are visiting. We’re in and out of the house, juggling errands, cooking meals and still hoping to get a couple more days’ enjoyment out of the Christmas decorations. This time of year, it’s especially important to think safety first to avoid potential problems.
Perhaps the biggest safety post-Christmas household safety hazard are those live Christmas trees that have been decorated with strings of lights and other ornaments. In some cases, the trees have been inside – drying out – since Thanksgiving Day, for those of us who like to enjoy holiday decorating for a while before Dec. 25. Most likely, the tree that you bought in early December was cut in late November, so it’s been drying out now for a few weeks, despite your best watering efforts.
Take care to make sure those strands of lights are in good working order, and the extension cords that snake around from the tree to the nearest outlet.
Did you know that unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires?
Check – and double-check if you’re that type of person – to make sure that the stove and oven are turned off before you head off to run errands!
This time of year, folks like to use candles to add a festive aroma. That Balsam Cedar sure smells good, and so does the Holiday Peppermint.
Christmas is the peak day for candle fires – did you know? On Dec. 25 each year, there’s an average of 35 fires – about 2.5 times the daily average. Second highest day? Christmas Eve.
Over the course of a year, the NFPA said 33 percent of fires are caused by candles. In December, however, that number jumps to 46 percent.
In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.
Falling asleep without extinguishing the flame was a factor in 10 percent of home candle fires and 12 percent of the associated deaths.
Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49 percent) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
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