Decorations are an important part of the holiday season. They add beauty to our homes and somehow make the holidays a little more special. But candles, Christmas trees, overloaded electrical plugs and ornaments can pose fire and other hazards, especially to curious children.As you decorate your home this year, keep a close eye on both children and the decorations themselves by following these simple safety tips:
- Keep your children in mind as you decorate. Don’t put ornaments and seasonal knick knacks with small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches of your tree or on shelves or tables where small children can easily reach them.
- Curious crawlers and toddlers like to pull on things that are within reach. If possible, trim the lowest protruding branches from your Christmas tree, and keep lights out of reach.
- Natural trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. If your tree was pre-cut, you should saw 2-3 inches off the bottom of the trunk to allow more water to be absorbed into the tree.
- Be especially careful about where you place your tree. Don’t place the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent.
- Never leave a lit tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Turn off your interior lights when you aren’t home or are sleeping.
- Inspect old Christmas lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. These can cause shock and burn hazards for children and adults.
- Do not overload extension cords or outlets with too many plugs. If you must use an extension cord, be careful not to place the electrical cord under a rug as it can overheat and become a fire hazard.
- Never burn tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.
