Holiday Season Safety Information
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By Firefighter/EMT Carolyn Arnold
NYSAFC Public Education Committee
Happy holidays from the NYSAFC Public Education Committee! This time of year, we are all approached with many questions and it is a great opportunity to teach fire safety!
Christmas Trees:
- Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, or heating vents.
- Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
- Add water to the tree daily to prevent drying out.
Holiday Lights:
- Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Be aware that some lights are strictly labeled for indoor or outdoor use.
- Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
- Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs (read manufacturer’s instructions for number of LED strands to connect).
- Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
- Never overload electrical outlets.
Candles:
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
- Think about using flameless candles in your home. They look and smell like real candles!
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.
- Put candle holders on a flat, uncluttered surface.
- Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
- Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
- Handheld candles should not be passed from one person to another at any time.
- When lighting candles at a candle lighting service, have the person with the unlit candle dip their candle into the flame of the lit candle.
- Lit candles should not be placed in windows where a blind or curtain could catch fire.
- Candles placed on or near tables, altars, or shrines must be watched by an adult.
- If a candle must burn continuously (for ceremonial or religious purposes) be sure it is enclosed in a glass container and placed in a sink, on a metal tray, or in a deep basin filled with water.
As always, make sure to have working smoke alarms and an exit plan!
For detailed information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA), check out these websites, loaded with information in a variety of formats to share in your community.
Click here for cooking and Thanksgiving turkey fryer safety tips, PSAs, and conversation starters for kids from the NFPA.
Click here for NFPA's "Project Holiday" site, which includes safety tips for Christmas trees, candle usage, and more.
Click here for holiday safety info from the USFA.
Information courtesy of NFPA and USFA.    
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