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Catawba County News

Don’t Let Gremlins Ruin Your Holidays!!!

Don’t Let Gremlins Ruin Your Holidays!!!

Published: December 16, 2022

The holidays are a great time to gather with family and friends to celebrate and build happy memories together, but a fire or serious injury can ruin those special moments.

Follow these tips to help prevent tragedies:

  • Prevent Fires
    • Keep your Christmas Tree watered. Check it daily and don’t let it dry out. Discard your tree if it dries out. One in four winter fires are related to holiday trees. Still need more convincing? Just watch this video on how fast this type of fire can spread NFPA Christmas Tree Fire
    • Place Christmas Trees or any flammable materials at least 3 feet away from heat sources (portable heaters, fireplaces, stoves, candles, etc.).
    • Do not leave burning candles unattended or better yet, just use battery-powered, flameless candles.
    • Turn off holiday lights when you go to bed or whenever you are going to be away from home. Christmas lights cause 40% of Christmas Tree fires.
    • Inspect string lights and electrical cords, then replace any that are damaged.
    • Don’t overload electrical circuits and make sure your string lights are UL-certified. Follow the package instructions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket.
    • Use “indoor” and “outdoor” lights appropriately. If lights are labelled for “indoor use only”, never use them outdoors. Also, consider switching to LED lights, they use less electricity and are cool to the touch, making them less likely to start a fire.
    • Keep an eye on food when cooking. Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires.
  • Prevent Injuries
    • Don’t block any exits with Christmas Trees or other decorations.
    • Plug “Outdoor” lights into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets. This can prevent electrical shock if exposed to wet conditions.
    • Use ladders correctly when putting up decorations. Have a person hold the ladder for stability. Reposition the ladder instead of over extending your reach while on the ladder.
    • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent them from being pulled over by children.
    • Ensure overnight guest know your home safety plan in case of an emergency.
    • Check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors.

Together we can have a safe and happy holiday.

#HolidaySafety #FireSafety #SafeTravels

Photo Credit: Creator Kázer Renato, ArtStation.com