During the holiday season, festive celebrations, hot meals, and flickering lights create a magical atmosphere. However, it’s important to stay mindful of the potential fire risks that can quickly turn this joyful time of the year into a devastating one. By following a few simple safety tips can ensure a safe and happy holiday season.
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Additional Tips
Thanksgiving
- If you have a small grease cooking fire, and attempt to extinguish it, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner if on the stovetop. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
December Holidays
- Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
- Replace any string lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
- Use tree lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
- Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
- Always turn off tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
- Add water to the tree stand. be sure to add water daily.
- Almost one third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.
- A heat source too close to the tree causes more than one in every five of the fires.