A FEW SUGGESTIONS

• Be sure to test your smoke detectors.
• Clean the oven and stove prior to the holiday. Often the extra load on these appliances causes a fire due to the high use and extra grease build-up.
• Keep kitchen clutter away from the stove and oven.
• Be extra careful with matches and candles. Candles should be made of flame retardant materials - look for a label stating such.
• Avoid loose, flammable clothing. Clothing often catches on fire around candles, matches, fireplaces and stoves (both electric and gas).
• Keep decorations away from sources of heat such as open flames, electric heaters and exposed electric bulbs.
• Don't overload electric outlets. Inspect electrical cords and light sets. If in doubt - throw them out.

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CHRISTMAS TREES

• Keep your Christmas tree in a sturdy base filled with water and check the water level daily.
• Spraying the Christmas tree with a flame retardant is always a good idea.
• Make a fresh cut on the trunk of your tree and place in a sturdy holder.
• Place the tree away from heat sources, such as fireplaces and heaters.
• Do not use candles on or near the tree.
• Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously dry, however never burn tree or tree parts in your fireplace.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

• Purchase only UL approved lights.
• Check all indoor and outdoor lights for frayed cords, replace if necessary.
• Never use lights that have an empty socket.
• Lights should not touch combustible materials.
• Use only outdoor lights for "outdoors".
• Mini lights are safest because they produce less heat.
• Avoid using extension cords, but if you do follow instructions carefully.
• Do not overload electrical circuits, such as wall outlets and extension cords, use a circuit strip.
• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

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CHRISTMAS WRAPPING

• Keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
• Never burn wrappings in your fireplace!

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CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

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