Each year, millions of people celebrate the holiday season with candles, lights, trees, ornaments and other decorations. But each holiday season, an estimated 20,000 people nationwide experience a home fire or serious injury. Here are the top hazards, and steps you can take to help your family stay safe:
Take care with candles. Never leave candles unattended. Keep burning candles in sight, away from places where kids and pets can reach them or knock them over. Lit candles should be placed away from items that can catch fire, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture. If you have pets and small children, consider using battery-powered/flameless candles.
Inspect your holiday lights. Purchase your lights from a reputable retailer and check them for the mark of an independent safety testing laboratory. Examine new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Do not use damaged light sets.
Keep live trees hydrated. Each year, home fires across the country are caused by live trees igniting, resulting in dozens of injuries and deaths and millions in property losses. Take steps to avoid a tree fire. Check for freshness when purchasing a live tree. The needles should be hard to pull from branches and shouldn’t break when bent. Preserve your tree while it is in your home by placing it away from heat sources, such as fireplaces or heating vents.
Be careful with ladders. Each year, many people are rushed to emergency rooms after falling from ladders that they are using to decorate their home for the holidays. Read OSHA’s guide to ladder safety for tips to prevent ladder falls this season.
Buy age-appropriate toys. Avoid toys with small parts for children younger than the age of 3. Make sure you’re purchasing toys that are age-appropriate. Don’t forget to include safety gear if you’re giving a bicycle, scooter or other sports equipment as gifts.