Merry Christmas! The Christmas season is full of traditions that have been passed on from one generation to the next. One tradition that many people partake in, is filling the house with Christmas decorations. There is one decoration however that usually causes some debate, the Christmas Tree. Everyone has their opinion on whether to put up a live tree or an artificial tree. At the end of the day, it does not matter what option you choose as long, as it helps add some joy to your home.
When it comes time to pull the decorations out of the attic and start installing them around the house, it is important to keep fire safety in mind. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fires that started due to Christmas Trees cause an annual average of $12 million dollars in direct property damage. Most recent date indicates that half of all Christmas Tree fires are caused by either and electrical problem or a heat source to close to the tree. Not surprisingly, 75 percent of Christmas tree fires occurred in December or January and the most common time for these fires is between 3pm and midnight. Below are some safety tips to keep you and your family safe this Christmas season.
- Purchasing a Tree
- If buying an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Retardant.” Although this label does not mean the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate that the tree will resist burning and extinguish quickly.
- If buying a live tree, check for freshness. Important things to look for are green needles, needles are hard to pull from the branches, the needles bend between your fingers without breaking, the lower trunk is sticky with resin, and when the tree is tapped on the ground, it does not lose to many needles.
- Setting up the Tree
- For live trees, keep them outdoors for a few days in a bucket of water as this will help maximize freshness.
- For live trees, make sure and cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Also keep the stand filled with water as a tree can absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first 24 hours.
- Make sure and place the tree away from type of heat source such as fire places, portable heaters, heater vents, and electrical equipment.
- Decorating the tree
- Use only indoor or outdoor lights that have been safety tested and labeled as such by an independent testing laboratory.
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
- Use no more than three standard standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
- Do not run electrical cords under rugs. Walking traffic can weaken the insulation and cause the wires to overheat, increasing the chances of fire or electrical shock.
- Never use lit candles on an artificial or live Christmas tree.
- Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house or office.
It does not matter what type of tree you decide to put in your home or business, just make sure to follow these tips to help keep you and your family safe. Until next time my friends, be prepared and stay safe!
Everyone at the Gerloff Company would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Reference: “How to Identify Common Worksite Hazards” by The Know How Team.
