Christmas Tree Safety Tips for the Holidays
Is there really anything that rings in the holiday season more than having a live Christmas tree in the house?
The smell alone puts you in the mood to sing carols and wrap gifts.
While a real tree is definitely festive, having one in your home means you need to take the right precautions to make sure you don’t end up with a fire because of it. Christmas trees, in fact, cause more than 13 million dollars in property damage in this country every year so it’s important to take care of them properly.
Here are some tips to make sure you don’t have these kind of issues with your live tree:
- Make sure when selecting a tree, that it’s fresh. The tree should have vibrant green needles that are difficult to pull out and don’t break easily. If the tree’s needles are shedding, don’t choose it.
- Make sure the tree is placed at least three feet away from heat vents, fireplaces, candles, radiators or lights.
- Don’t allow the tree to block an exit.
- Before putting the tree in the stand, cut a couple of inches off the bottom.
- Don’t forget to put water in the tree stand once the tree is placed. Add water every day to keep the tree from drying out.
- Use lights that have been tested by an independent testing laboratory for safety and get rid of any that are damaged. Also never use indoor lights outdoors.
- If you have frayed cords or loose bulbs replace the lights.
- Don’t connect too many strands of lights to one plug-in.
- Never use lit candles for decoration on or near the tree.
- Don’t leave the lights on when you’re not at home or after you’ve gone to bed
at night.
One more thing, after the holidays, dispose of the tree properly. Don’t leave the tree
near the house or in the garage as they remain a fire hazard. Nearly all communities
have a recycling program.
If you follow these simple tips, you’ll have a worry-free Christmas when it comes to
concerns about having a live tree in the house.
