Holiday Safety - Home Fire Safety Tips

The holidays are a time of fun and family. Because the holidays can oftentimes be chaotic and stressful, it can be easy to allow the word "safety" slip from your mind. However, accidents have a way or occurring when people are not paying attention to their actions. When people envision the holidays, it is often a picturesque visage that greets their eyes. The family is all assembled in the living room, and they are laughing and enjoying each other’s presence in the comfort of a warm fire blazing in the fireplace. This is wonderful and you should do so if you desire. However, this holiday season, make sure you take the time to consider holiday fire safety.

First, if you decide to have a live tree over Christmastime, there are several hazards of which to be aware. A danger to having a live tree or winter garland in your home is the drying out of the pine needles. If your tree is next to a blazing fire, or you have garland draped over the fireplace, a spark could easily fly out and turn the greenery into a fiery blaze that can quickly spread throughout your home.

To help prevent a tree fire, make sure you buy a pine or spruce tree that is freshly cut and that also has a rich green color. Be sure to check the needles…they should be flexible and firmly attached to the tree’s branches. Also, the trunk of the tree should have sap on it that is sticky when touched. This shows that the tree was recently cut, in addition to being properly hydrated. Remember to keep your tree well watered (the bowl should always be full), as this will help your tree last longer. Most importantly, remember to keep your tree away from any heat source, such as the fireplace, candles, a space heater…you name it.

The disposal of a holiday tree is also important. Take your tree to a recycling center, or leave it in front of your house for your local garbage service to pick up. Do not place your tree in a bonfire or a fireplace for an "easy" disposal of the tree. It is simply creating an unnecessary fire hazard.

Another holiday fire hazard is lighting. Many people like to decorate for the holidays by placing lights outside their home, on their tree, on the banister, and over the fireplace mantle. Be sure to inspect your lights each year for cracking plastic, frayed or loose wires, rips in the seaming, and simple wear and tear. Also, never leave the lights on outside your home when you are away. No one wants to come home from a holiday party to find their house aflame.

Finally, be conscious of present wrapping paper. If you keep your presents near the fireplace or candles, move them. Paper can easily catch on fire and spread quickly to other objects. Also, do not use wrapping paper in the place of newspaper when lighting a fire in the fireplace. Wrapping paper sometimes contain chemicals that can be harmful if the fumes are inhaled in excess.

Remember to consider fire safety during the holiday seasons, and you and your family can remain comfortable and safe, not to mention having peace of mind. Happy holidays!

This article was provided by the authors at Pet-Super-Store.com an online pet supplies store featuring dog houses.