Christmas Safety

Brookside Fire Company would like to wish all the families of Harborcreek a warm, happy and safe holiday season.

As in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

A Season for Sharing in Fire Safety

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. There are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Below are some safety tips for the holiday season.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie segments demonstrating how fast a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames. Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of Your Tree
Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

Maintain Your Holiday Lights
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.
Artificial Christmas Trees
If you are using a metallic or artificial tree make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

Avoid Using Lit Candles
If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Pet Safety

Fallen Christmas tree needles are very sharp and can easily get stuck in your pet's paws or throat. Sweep tree needles up regularly or fence off your Christmas tree to separate your pet and tree.
Do not hang your chocolates from your Christmas tree: they are highly toxic and your pet will be tempted if they can see and smell them.

Cover up electric cords and flashing tree lights so your pet can’t chew them and electrocute himself.
Christmas tree decorations can cause a nasty accident or be fatal to your pet. Cats, and young pets especially, will show a great interest in decorations hanging from your tree. Try to use unbreakable decorations and nothing too small. Avoid tinsel or ribbons as these are dangerous to the gastrointestinal tract if your pet swallows them.

Make sure your tree is well anchored so your pet can’t pull it over.

Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Lilies and Yew tree are poisonous to pets and must be kept well out of reach.

Remove your Christmas wrapping paper (and toys) from the floor to avoid your pet chewing or swallowing it.

Don't forget to prevent the ingestion of Christmas tree water since stagnant water or preservatives can be toxic.

Fire and burns are not the only threats to pets and the household. Scented items can also be harmful, especially to birds.

Keep trash lids on tight. Chewed aluminum foil and e-coili are risks to pets.

Other holiday hazards include menorahs, candles and liquid potpourri pots.