Preventing Accidental Injury. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 26, 2012 Contact: Cherie Sage, 785-296-1223, or Daina Hodges, 785-296-0351

Deck the Halls Safely for the Holidays

Safe Kids Kansas reminds Kansans to take precautions when decorating

TOPEKA, Kan. - Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to take a few precautions when decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and other winter festivities. Holiday decorations, especially candles and electrical lighting, can be a fire hazard.

During 2004-2008, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimated that decorations, excluding Christmas trees, were the item first ignited in an average of 1,170 reported home structure fires per year. Half of these fires occurred because the decoration was too close to a heat source. Forty-five percent of these incidents were started by candles. The top five days for home candle fires were Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, Halloween and Dec. 23. 

Pay attention to labels when choosing your lighting. “Decorative lighting should be labeled with the seal of an independent testing lab,” says Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. “If it’s not labeled for outdoor use, don’t use it outdoors.”

NFPA said that Christmas trees, both natural and artificial, were the item first ignited in an estimated average of 240 report home structure fires per year during 2005-2009.

If you decorate a tree, Safe Kids Kansas recommends these precautions:

• Never leave a lit Christmas tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.
• Natural Christmas trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all time s or consider an artificial tree. Do not put the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent. LED lights burn cooler than incandescent lights and pose a lower risk of fire.
• Decorate with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Trim protruding branches at or below a child’s eye level, and keep lights out of reach.
• Do not burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.
• Never leave burning candles unattended. Don’t put candles on a tree or a natural wreath, or near curtains or drapes. Keep matches and lighters locked out of reach. Battery-operated flameless candles are an alternative that does not have a fire risk.

Safe Kids Kansas also offers these tips to prevent accidental poisoning:

• Keep alcohol (including baking extracts) out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended. Don’t forget to store all medications, including those for children, out of reach.
• Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach. Artificial snow sprays are also harmful if inhaled.
• Holly berries, mistletoe berries, poinsettias, amaryllis, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry are all potentially harmful if eaten. If a child eats any part of a non-food plant, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

For more information, visit www.safekids.org.

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