Tips For Yule Tree Safety
Christmas trees may be beautiful, but they can also be dangerous.
Each year, thousands of Americans are rushed to the emergency room from injuries they've sustained while decorating their trees.
There are steps you can take to avoid a trip to the emergency room. James Fuller, a representative from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is scheduled to stop by The Early Show on Thursday with some tips on avoiding injuries this holiday season.
Keep your tree watered: If you have a real tree in your home, the first thing you want to do is make sure you are keeping it watered. Fill the tree's stand with water every day. Fuller says you may be surprised about how much water the tree consumes on a daily basis, so be sure to frequently check the stand. It should never go dry.
If the tree does not receive an adequate amount of water, it will begin to dry out, making it more susceptible to catching fire from the heat of the lights -- dry branches are more sensitive to heat from lights. If you have an artificial tree, it should be fire resistant. Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
Lights and ornaments: This section pertains to both real and artificial trees. What good is a Christmas tree without decorations? Fuller says we all love a tree full of lights, garland and ornaments, but be sure to use precautions when decorating your tree. Use lights that have a "UL" symbol on the box, meaning they are marked for indoor use, and have been tested by an independent laboratory. Also, check each set of lights, new or old, for signs of wear. Are they beginning to fray? Do you spot any exposed metal? Loose bulb connections? Do you see any places on the wire cover that appear to be melting? If so, throw them away immediately. If you have any doubts about an electrical cord, toss it.
Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs. Avoid overloading electrical circuits, extension cords and power strips. Never put candles on or near your Christmas tree. Open flames should be kept far away from your tree. This is a recipe for disaster. And always be sure to turn off all lights before going to bed or leaving the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Ornaments and other decorations, such as tinsel and beads, can pose a risk to small children and pets. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them. Be sure to keep a close eye on your children and your pets during the holiday season.
Keep tree away from heat sources: Keep tree away from heat. Burn wood only - never burn paper, including discarded gift wrap. Don't burn fires in the fireplace if you've hung stockings from the mantle. Keep the tree away from heating units and wood stoves.
After the holidays: Don't keep your tree around too long after the holidays. The longer you keep your tree in your house, the more of a risk you take. Real trees can dry out quickly, and the drier they get, the better the chance of a fire.
As you dismantle your tree and remove the ornaments and lights, inspect them carefully. Wrap the breakable ornaments individually in layers of tissue paper to prevent shattering, and inspect the strings of lights one by one. While they may have been in good shape when you hung them on the tree, the lights may have deteriorated during the holidays. Toss them out now, to avoid any hazards next year.
Sources: Santasearch.com, Christmastreesafety.com, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Red Cross