Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Decorations

• Inspect your electric decorations before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or can start a fire.
• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. 

Candles

• Consider using battery-operated candles. They are safer than regular candles.
• Extinguish all unattended open flames.
• Don't use candles on a tree or evergreens, and keep them away from decorations and wrapping paper.
• Keep candles out of children's reach and never leave children unsupervised where candles are lit.

Electric outlets

• Don't overload electric outlets. They can cause a fire.
• Don't place extension cords where they could cause a tripping hazard.

Holiday Trees

• A fresh tree will help minimize the danger of fire from dry needles.
• A live tree can drink up a lot of water. Check it daily and keep the stand filled with water.
• Purchase a "fire resistant" artificial tree.
• Your tree should be at least 3 feet from all heat sources.

Outdoor Decorating

• All decorations should be marked for outdoor use. 
• Plug lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock.
• Keep all ladders away from power lines. Any type could cause shock or electrocution, especially when they are wet.
• Outdoor extension cords and light strings should be kept clear of snow and water.

Child Safety

• Young children should be kept away from holiday lights, electrical decorations and extension cords to prevent electrical shock and burn injuries.
• Unused outlets on extension cords should be covered with electrical tape or plastic caps to prevent a child from making contact with electricity.

Smoke Detectors

• Test your smoke alarms monthly and make sure that your house is protected by an adequate number of working alarms.
• Smoke alarms should be located inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.
• Develop a fire escape plan with your family including the location of an outside meeting place and two ways out of each room in your home.

In the Kitchen

• Children must be supervised at all times when a stove is within reach.
• Keep them at least three feet away from cooking appliances.
• Don't hold a child while cooking or when removing hot food from the microwave, oven or stove.
• Turn pot handles inward on the stove, away from small reaching hands.
• Use the back burners on the cooktop whenever possible.
• When your holiday meal is ready, make sure your stove and oven are turned off and other kitchen appliances are unplugged and out of reach of children.