As Christmas trees and other decorations are bought this holiday season, and one's home is being decorated to celebrates one's faith, I thought I would write a short article containing tips to minimize the likelihood of a home fire occurring, injuries, or other potential disasters.
According to 1999 statistics from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), "Christmas trees were the first item ignited in 370 home fires, resulting in five deaths, 60 injuries and $15.7 million in direct property damage."
That being said, here are some tips to help keep you and your family safe for the holidays.
1. When purchasing a live tree, lift the tree off the ground and tap the base on the ground. When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that the tree is too dry.
2. Make a fresh 1-inch cut at the base of the tree to open up pores clogged by sap. Water a live tree daily. Most natural trees every day absorb between a quart and a gallon of water. If the tree is not regularly watered, a seal will form and no more water will be absorbed.
3. Use only safe lights listed by a testing laboratory follow the manufacturer's instructions with the installation, use, and maintenance of the lights.
4. Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
5. Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
6. Consider keeping spare fuses and a "breakdown kit" in your vehicle at all times. Visit the University of Oklahoma Police Notebook for more information on breakdown kits.
7. Check your fire extinguisher to be sure that it is full and working properly. Make sure that everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
I haven't forgotten you pet owners. Here are a few tips for you too:
1. Keep holiday plants, such as holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies out of reach. These plants are poisonous to both people and animals.
2. Holiday sweets with chocolate are not for pets. Depending on the dose ingested, chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk and dark) can be potentially poisonous to many animals.
3. Christmas tree lights and electrical cords can be fatal if chewed on by a dog (or cat). Whenever possible, keep electrical cords out of reach.
4. Don't give pets holiday leftovers and keep pets out of the garbage. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages.
5. Hang tinsel up out of the reach of pets. If pets eat tinsel, it can potentially block their intestines.
6. Replace metal ornament hooks with tightly knotted fabric 1/4 inch ribbons, light-weight twine or yarn to slip easily over the branches of the tree.
7. Keep pet areas free and clear of pine needles, which can puncture holes in a pet's intestines if swallowed or ingested.
The holidays should be wonderful and joyous times for families. Taking the proper precautions can help keep you, your family, your pets, and other loved ones safe.
Dwayne Haskell owns and operates Mistkits.com where complete misting kits, individual components, and advice can be found. After building his own misting system for his nursery, he realized he could design and build systems for small nurseries or home gardeners who are interested in starting their own plants from cuttings.
He has written an E-book titled Build an Arbor in Just One Weekend, and another on gardening, landscaping and plant propagation tips. He also enjoys teaching others how to grow their own landscape plants and owns and moderates the Mistkits blog, where you can find more articles, polls, and quizzes on landscape and gardening related topics. Be sure to grab your own copy of an E-book when you visit!