Christmas Tree Safety
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us it's time to prepare for Christmas. Each night, more and more families are decorating Christmas trees and filling their homes with the spirit of the holidays. This is a joyful time of year and Christmas decorations are a large part of the fun. However, along with that fun comes a lot of danger. There are many hazards that can be associated with holiday decorations, particularly live Christmas trees.
Live trees can be a major fire hazard if the proper safety precautions are not taken. Each year fire departments respond to an annual average of 210 house fires caused by Christmas trees. Where you place the tree, how you decorate it, and what you do with it after Christmas all play a role in the safety of your home. Follow these safety tips below to ensure that you and your family are safe this holiday season.
Let’s start with some safety tips to follow when placing the tree in your home.
Before placing your tree in the stand, cut 1-2 inches off the base of the trunk.
When you choose a location for the tree, make sure that it is not blocking any exits.
Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source like fire places, candles, heat vents, radiators, or lights.
Be sure to add water to the tree stand daily.
Once your tree is in place and you prepare to decorate it keep in mind that what you put on your tree can be just as hazardous as the tree itself. Keep these safety tips in mind when lighting your tree.
Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
Replace any string of lights that has worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than 3 strands together, with a maximum of 50 screw in bulbs each string. Read instructions on what the maximum number of LED strands is.
NEVER use lit candles to decorate a Christmas tree.
ALWAYS turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
When Christmas ends the last thing that we want to do is take down all of the decorations and put everything away, but it can be very dangerous to let your Christmas tree linger in the home for too long after the holiday. Here are some tips on what to do after the holiday.
Get rid of the tree when it begins to drop needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home, garage, or outside against the house.
Check with your local community to find a tree recycling program.
Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent a fire hazard. It can also help them last longer.
Christmas trees may not be the number one cause of house fires, but they are one of the causes that you can ultimately prevent. Use these tips this holiday season to keep you, your family, and your home safe. If you have any questions regarding fire hazards, damage, or need our assitance call 770.720.9533. We are here to help 24/7/365.
