WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the holidays approach, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging people
to look for and eliminate potential danger spots from
holiday lights and decorations that could lead to fires or
injuries.
Each year, about 1,300 people are treated in hospital
emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday lights and
trimmings. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in
about 500 fires annually, resulting in an average of $20
million in property loss and damage each year.
CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "Decorating our homes for
the holidays is a beautiful tradition, and to ensure that
this holiday season is a safe and happy one, CPSC is
releasing the following safety tips."
Trees:
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 bounced 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.
Lights:
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been
tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or
cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections,
and discard 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 to hold strings in
place, not nails or tacks. 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.
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.
Fireplaces:
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored
flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals
that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and
vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash
fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn
intensely.