It’s the Holiday Season – a magical time – Christmas trees are all aglow as families enjoy this festive time of year. However, at OceanPoint Insurance, we have the safety of you and your family in mind during this special season. Often, many people forget that holiday candles, lights, and trees can cause dangerous household fires.
Here are 5 tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this season:
1) Electrical Safety:
Electrical problems cause one out of every four Christmas tree fires. When you take your holiday lights out of storage, always inspect your lights for frayed wires or any other types of physical damage. When plugging in the lights check each outlet for any cracks or burns, if you do see damage on your outlets consult with a certified electrician.
It is advisable to replace your holiday lights every few years because the old lights may become damaged with use and storage.
When storing your tree lights, be sure they are not in a placed in an area where they may rust or corrode.
When you leave your home, always turn off the holiday lights, this will reduce the risk of a fire.
2) Tree Placement
The most important consideration when placing your tree should be fire safety. Keep the tree away from all heat sources: be sure that the tree is not near a wood stove, electrical heater, portable heat source, open flame, etc.
3) Decorations and Tree Care
Consider using non-flammable decorations to reduce the risk of fire.
Fill the tree stand with water and check it daily. Be sure to fill up as needed; this will prevent the tree from drying out. A dry tree is significantly more likely to catch on fire, see video below:
4) Candle Safety
There is nothing quite like the aroma of ‘Balsam Fir’ circulating the house during the holidays. However, candles do have an open flame, and seasonally scented candles are accountable for 1 in 4 house fires. Be sure to keep the candles in a place where the flame can not reach any flammable objects. Also, make sure there is nothing that can fall into or near a lit candle.
Come up with a way such as setting the alarm on your watch or smart device to remind yourself to blow the candles out at night or when you leave home.
5) Fire Alarms
Now is a great time to think about the functionality of your home’s fire alarms. Have they been tested recently to ensure that they are in working order?
This test is simple and typically involves pushing the ‘test’ button on your alarms. It is an easy task that can save lives.
Our OceanPoint Insurance team would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season. We are looking forward to welcoming in a new year!
