I was surprised to learn a few weeks ago that I was putting my family at risk with a simple decision I was making; leaving my tree lights on. Holiday decorations can increase the chance of fire in your home if not done safely. According to the National Fire Protection Association, tree fires during the holidays are more likely to be serious. Lighting on trees is involved in more than two of every five home fires Christmas trees. There are a few simple things you can do to keep your home safe and enjoy all your holiday decorations.
Inspect your lights before hanging. Throw away any lights with cracked strands, excessive kicking, or frayed cords. If your lights are warm to the touch throw them out!
Hang your lights with clips, avoid using nails. Never use your electric lights on a metal tree.
Do not overload your electrical sockets. Plan to limit your lights to 50 screw-in bulbs or no more than three strands.
Pay attention to where you place your extension cords. Avoid running them under carpets, heaters, or high traffic areas. Running cords across doorways may cause a tripping hazard, be mindful to place them in places where they will not be tripped over.
Make sure your decorations are nonflammable and place them away from lights or heater vents. Consider vents and fireplaces when choosing a place for your tree.
When enjoying your holiday candles, place them out of reach of children and pets. Fifty-seven percent of December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to 32 percent in January through November.
Ensure your candles burn safely by removing burnable materials from around them and never leave them unattended.
Always keep your live tree watered, using water only! Cutting the bottom two inches off the trunk before setting it up will help improve water absorption.
Unplug your lights before going to bed or leaving your house.
For more holiday safety tips see the resources below. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday!
Writer: Alisha Barton, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County, barton.345@osu.edu
Reviewer: Lorrissa Dunfee , Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Belmont County, dunfee.54@osu.edu
Resources:
ESFI Holiday Decorating Safety. (2015). Electrical Safety Foundation International https://www.esfi.org/resource/holiday-decorating-safety-342
Holiday Decorations Safety Tips. (n.d.). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission https://cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/611.pdf
McKelvey, S. (2019, December 13). The Holiday Season Presents Increased Fire Risks Due to Multiple Factors. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-Posts/2019/12/13/the-holiday-season-presents-increased-fire-risks-due-to-multiple-factors
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