Holiday Decoration Safety Tips In Casper, WY

12/12/2017 (Permalink)

Holiday Decorations

With the holiday season, we all get excited about the cooking, baking, and setting up Christmas decorations. But unfortunately, with all the excitement we become complacent, and we don’t think of safety first. 

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission there were 15,000 injuries related to holiday decorations in 2012. Mishaps send about 250 people to the emergency room daily, with falls, cuts and back strains topping the list of injuries. To ensure you have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season with your friends and family, here are 12 tips to keep in mind as you deck out your home:

1. Keep live trees away from heated sources – Keep your tree from heated sources such as fireplaces and heaters. It’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher near your tree. Live trees are highly flammable because of the needles and sap.
2. Hydrate your tree - When picking your tree you want to pick the greenest one. It’s one way to keep your tree from drying out so quickly. Make sure you check it every other day to make sure the water does not run out. A dried out tree is more flammable then a hydrated one.
3. Artificial tree - When purchasing an artificial tree you want to make sure that it’s labeled “fire resistant.” Artificial trees that are fire resistant have a low chance of catching on fire.
4. Burning wrapping paper in the fireplace - Paper can catch fire very quickly and cause a flash fire.
5. Work as a team - When stringing lights and decorations higher than you can reach, make sure you use a proper ladder and someone supporting the base.
6. Double check your lights - Check and replace any lights that may have frayed wires, broken sockets, and loose connections. Make sure you don’t put indoor-rated lights outside; you want to check the label to see if they are designed to be hung outdoors. You want to make sure that you don’t string too many lights together so you don’t over strain the cords and cause a fire.
7. Power down at the end of the night – Turn off all your lights before going to bed. It’s also a good idea to do that before you leave your home. In case of an electrical short, you can avoid significant damage when caught in time.
8. Prevent electrical cord damage – Don’t mount electrical cords in areas that are at a high risk of crimping or damaging the cord. When hanging them, make sure you use hooks or insulated staples instead of nails or tacks.
9. Secure candles – When buying candles, it is best to buy them in a glass container with a lid. Make sure candles are placed on a sturdy platform to help prevent tipping. Always snuff out the candles before leaving your home or going to bed.
10. Use unbreakable ornaments – If you have fragile ornaments, place them out of reach of pets and kids.
11. Fake food – It’s best to avoid artificial candy or food around pets and children.
12. Poisonous plants – Poinsettias are poisonous when eaten, so it’s a good idea to keep them out of reach of kids and pets.

Happy Holidays from all of us at SERVPRO of Casper!