Dont Gamble with Holiday Safety
Posted on Updated on
It may be lucky in gambling but it seems seven isnt such a lucky number when it comes to the holidays. Did you know that line-voltage holiday or decorative lights start an average of 170 home structure fires each year? According to the National Fire Protection Association, these fires cause approximately 7 deaths, 17 injuries, and $7.9 million in property damage annually. Christmas should be a time for celebration, not a time to worry about the dangers associated with your decorations. Heres some fire hazards you should identity and a few safety precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family.
Christmas Trees
- For many families, picking the right Christmas tree is an annual tradition. When selecting a tree, make sure the tree appears fresh with green needles and the branches are not easy to pull from the tree.
- Its recommended to cut an additional two inches off the trunk and keep it watered at all times. There have been tests that report a Christmas tree can ignite and completely burn in less than two minutes, but as this video shows, it can be less than 45 seconds.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for a fire resistant label, usually an Underwriters Laboratory Underwriters Tested label.
- Place your tree at least three feet from any heat source including fireplaces, radiators, wood burning stoves, and space heaters.
- Do not leave the tree up for an extended period after the holidays. Fire safety professionals recommend you not leave it up any longer than two weeks and discard it immediately. A dried-out tree is highly flammable and can still cause major damage when sitting. Check with your local community for a recycling program or other disposal options.
Holiday Lights
While holiday lights help make the season beautiful, they also can create fire safety hazards. Whether hung around the house or on a Christmas tree, certain precautions must be taken with these decorations:
- Only use lights tested and rated by Underwriters Laboratories (look for the UL label).
- Check holiday lights for frayed wires or excessive wear, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Discard any damaged light sets.
- Follow manufacturer guidelines, including use in the proper environment (indoor vs. outdoor).
- Dont connect more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
- Use no more than three standard-size light sets per single extension cord.
- Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping, but do not run cords under rugs.
- Be careful when hanging lights. Use insulated holders instead of tacks, staples, or nails.
- Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Place any candles well away from tree branches.
- Avoid hanging lights near any potential fire hazard, such as loose paper or other flammable materials.
- Turn off all lights before you go to bed or leave the house.
- Take lights down after the holidays. These lights are meant for temporary use only.
Candles
- Never use them on a tree.
- Make sure they are in stable candle holders.
- Place them where they cannot easily be knocked over.
- Never leave them unattended.
- Always put them out before going to bed.
Also, make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are operating properly.
My final piece of advice, if you have ever watched the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, by all means AVOID anything attempted by Clark Griswold! Have a safe and happy holiday!
Tips courtesy of the National Safety Council and National Fire Protection Association.
Il Don, anticamente detto Tanai (dal greco , Tánaïs, dal nome della città di Tana), è un fiume della Russia europea sud occidentale, affluente del mar
DON - Wikipedia
Cinema [modifica | modifica sorgente] Don - film indiano del 1978; Don - film indiano del 2006; Don - film olandese del 2006; Codici [modifica | modifica sorgente]
Comune / Comune di Don - Comune di Don
Sezione che ospita gli atti amministrativi del Comune: deliberazioni di giunta e consiglio, determinazioni, decreti sindacali ed ordinanze
Don Zauker | una produzione Paguri
Esorcista in un mondo in cui Dio e il Diavolo non esistono (cioè il nostro), Don Zauker è un fumetto sulla totale mancanza di senso critico che caratterizza m
Don Giorgio De Capitani - Notizie & Politica a Tutto Campo ...
Alla riscoperta del Cristo radicale per dare voce alla profezia nella nostra società occidentale che sembra sull'orlo del declino dell'umanesimo. Don Giorgio De Capitani
Don Alfonso 1890 -
A history of hospitality that has been handed down for generations for over a century Una storia di ospitalit che si tramanda per generazioni da oltre un secolo
Don Backy
Don Backy sito ufficiale Pillole dal 1956 al 1960; Pillole dal 1961 al 1965; Pillole dal 1966 al 1970
Dona Salotti
una comodità così grande da condividere con tanti amici
.: SDB.ORG :.
RM: Mess. BS marzo 2014 RM: Strenna 2014 presentazione Campagna Preghiera: marzo 2014 Don Bosco: Scritti Formazione: Impegni CIF Lectio Divina
Home Page - Don Matteo 8
Don Matteo 9 - Quinta puntata del 06/02/2014 Don Matteo 9 Fiction. Ep. 9 L'ultimo colpo Don Matteo e Cecchini rimangono coinvolti in un tentativo di rapina in