Play it safe at home during holidays

Planning for the holidays is a busy and joyful time. But all the extra decorations, electrical cords and the parade of people constantly going in and out of your home call for more safety precautions. To help you make this holiday season safe and happy for you and your family, the National Association of Home Builders has put together this checklist for home holiday safety:

“If you plan to spend the holidays away from home, ask a friend to watch your house and take in your newspaper and mail. Put lights throughout the house on timers to turn them on and off in your normal living pattern.

“If you display a live Christmas tree or live greenery, select the freshest possible. On trees, look for a trunk sticky with sap and for green needles that bend and are secure on the branches. If the tree is moist, it is less likely to catch fire.

“When using a live Christmas tree, cut the base at a 45 degree angle. Place it in a container with water and always keep the water level above the cut.

“Place trees a safe distance from stoves, radiators, vents, fireplaces and any other heat source that may dry the tree. Inspect the tree for dryness daily.

“Inspect all wiring on holiday lights. Defective, worn or frayed electrical wiring should be thrown away. Check for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label on lights. Also, be sure to use fixtures specifically designed for outdoor use if you decorate your house, trees or yard.

“Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Also, don’t run electrical cords under rugs. Be sure all lights are turned off before you go to bed or leave the house.

“Keep candles and other open flames away from decorations. Never leave burning candles unattended and always supervise children when using candles.

“Use only non-flammable decorations around your house.

“Keep a fire extinguisher in the vicinity of the tree. In case of fire, leave your home and call for help from a neighbor’s home. Plan your family’s escape route now, before you need to get out quickly.

“When buying artificial decorations, check for “flameproof” or “fire retardant” qualities.

“Keep decorations away from doorways, stairways or other major walking paths.

“Dispose of wrapping paper in proper trash receptacles. Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace. Don’t burn evergreens in the fireplace or in a wood stove to dispose of them. They could flare out of control and send flames and smoke into your house.

“Since you are buying batteries for holiday toys and gifts, pick up extras for your smoke detector.

“Cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the U.S. When you cook, be sure to wear clothes that fit close to the body so they won’t be ignited by hot burners. Do not leave items cooking on the stove and be sure that pot handles are turned in.

“When disposing of your tree and other decorations, check with your local nurseries or home and garden stores to see if they have set up mulching centers.

The decorations around your house, lights, gifts, music and the presence of loved ones make this time of year festive and fun. Following just a few simple safety precautions will give you and your family some peace of mind during the holidays and may prevent fire or injury in your home.

From all of us at the Spokane Home Builders Association, we wish you and your family a joyful and safe holiday season.