Holiday Safety Tips from the Forsyth County Fire Department

Posted Monday, November 28, 2005

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According to the United Sates Fire Administration, fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause in excess of $930 million in damage annually. The Forsyth County Fire Department encourages citizens to help insure a safe holiday season by following some simple tips.

“This is an ideal time to remember the precautionary safety measures that can be taken to help keep you and your family safe this holiday season,” said Fire Chief Danny Bowman. “Responsible use of lighting and holiday decorations, as well as proper selection of and care for a tree are essential to preventing fires and injuries throughout the holidays.”

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

Selecting a Tree for the Holiday

• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.
• The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for Your Tree

• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.
• Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
• Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of Your Tree

• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.
• The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights. Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
• Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do not overload electrical outlets; do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
• Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Holiday Decorations

• Use only non-flammable decorations.
• All decorations should be non-flammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace; it can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

Artificial Holiday Trees

• If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.
• Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never put lit candles on a tree.
• Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
• Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated. Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games.
• Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1-1/4 inches in diameter and 2-1/4 inches long. Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
• Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children. Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

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