Holiday Season Decorating Safety

 

 

 

 

With the holiday season just around the corner stores are filled with Christmas decorations galore to suit anyone’s style. With a little extra knowledge, this year you can protect your family and home and enjoy the holiday season knowing you are fully prepared!

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree check that it is “fire resistant” which means it will resist burning and extinguish quickly if it does catch on fire.
• When purchasing a live tree it should be fresh- it should look green, needles will be hard to pull off of branches and do not break easily, the trunk bottom should be sticky with resin and when tapped on the ground minimal needles should be lost. Heated rooms dry the tree out so keep the stand filled with water.
• Choose a location for the tree away from fireplaces and radiators, out of the way of traffic and not blocking any doors.

Lights

• Indoor and outdoor lights should have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory to meet safety standards. Only use lights with fused plugs.
• Check old and new lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections and get rid of any damaged ones. Replace burned-out bulbs with the same wattage bulbs.
• Only use a maximum of three standard size strings of lights per extension cord making sure the extension cord is rated for this use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree because it
• can become charged from faulty lights and electrocute anyone who touches the tree.
• Check that outdoor lights are certified for outdoor use and keep your distance from power or feeder lines from utility poles leading into older homes.
• Hang outdoor lights securely to protect them from wind damage using hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks.
• Outdoor lights should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s). Portable GFCI’s can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold or can be installed permanently by an electrician.
• Turn off ALL of your holiday lights when you go to bed or leave your home; the lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Choose non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to decorate your Christmas tree. Stick to tinsel or artificial icicles made of non-leaded materials; leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use candles on a tree or other evergreen decorations. Use non-flammable holders placed where they can’t be knocked over.
• In homes with small children, avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable or have small parts that can be swallowed or that resemble food or candy that a child may try to eat.

Fireplaces

• -Use a firescreen and keep decorations away from the fireplace and where they can’t fall into the fire.
• -Do not burn wrapping paper or other garbage, as these materials ignites, a flash fire may suddenly result.

This is a Joyous Season and sometimes all that glitter and bling we are tempted with gets in our way, and we forget some of these steps that can keep our family and home safe as we Celebrate and Entertain this Season.  Enjoy your Christmas and your Home.

 

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

 KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!