Explore the following fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe during the holidays.
The holiday season is among us, and people are planning parties and family gatherings. Nothing is better than interacting with loved ones around beautiful decorations and a delicious meal. While lovely, these decorations can become problematic to your home. From dry trees to overloaded outlets, learning the fire risks of holiday decorations is imperative. Keep reading to explore the following fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe during the holidays.
Keep an Eye Out for Holiday Lights
Colorful string lights are standard in holiday decorations. In addition, these lights are lovely and add flair to any residential home, but they can be a severe fire hazard. Also, avoid using outdoor lights and cords indoors, and never run extension cords under the doors or carpets. When decorating your home, watch out for bent wires and broken light sockets. In addition, avoid using nails to hang lights because they can attract sparks and potentially start a fire. Instead, turn lights using clips, plastic hooks, or insulated staples.
Avoid Overloading Outlets
Many holiday decorations require electricity and must be plugged in. Although you might be tempted to connect everything into the same outlet for convenience’s sake, this can be dangerous. This is because you may easily overload an outlet. Instead, utilize a power strip to plug because it provides more individual outlets and removes the strain from your wall outlet. As a result, an overloaded outlet may quickly spark and trigger a fire.
Never Leave Candles Unattended
Another fire safety tip is never to leave candles unattended. Even though candles are great for decorations, they are significant fire hazards. So, keep them close by where they can be extinguished. If your décor requires candles, consider utilizing flameless candles. Additionally, battery-operated LED candles flicker and still give the appearance of fire without much risk.
Christmas Tree Safety
You must select a healthy tree if you bring home a Christmas tree. Plus, seek a tree with needles that pull back quickly from the branches but don’t break. Remember that a tree that sheds a lot of needles is not fresh if you ever tap one. Another fire safety tip is to never put your tree near heat sources or open flames, like candles or fireplaces. In addition, cut several inches off the tree trunk to expose the fresh wood because this keeps your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480.