Fire Safety During The Holidays

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Christmas trees, candles and preparing holiday meals for the entire family to enjoy are only a few of the things people associate with the holiday season in Canada. As joyous and festive as these symbols might be, they also represent three of the leading causes of holiday fires in the home. There are a few precautions you can take to keep you and your family safe from the risk of fire.

Make certain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work

If the smoke alarms in your home are more than 10 years old, treat yourself to an early holiday present by purchasing new ones and installing at least one for each storey and placing additional units outside of sleeping areas. Get into the habit of testing the alarms each month and replace batteries on a regular basis.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas does not have an odour to warn you of its presence. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in your home according to the instructions and placement recommendations that come with the devices. If you already have them in your home, replace any devices that are more than seven years old.

Christmas trees need water

This tip obviously only applies to real Christmas trees. Trees need water to survive, and your Christmas tree is no exception. The heating system in your home is working overtime during the holiday season to keep your family warm and toasty, but it is also drying out your Christmas tree and turning it into a fire hazard.

When purchasing a real tree, you want one that is fresh. You can tell a tree is fresh if the needles do not fall off when you firmly tap the trunk against the ground. Once you find the right tree and bring it home, place it in its stand away from sources of heat or flame, including:

• Fireplaces
• Radiators
• Space heaters
• Candles

Fill the tree stand with water and check it daily to ensure the tree does not dry out. A dry tree can quickly ignite and set fire to your home.

Many artificial trees look like the real thing and do not require the same level of care of real trees. Make sure the artificial tree you buy has a label indicating it is certified as fire resistant. Fire resistant does not mean the tree cannot catch fire, but it should not burn as quickly as one that is not fire resistant.

Decorate with care

Make sure your indoor and outdoor holiday lights are CSA approved. Old, frayed sets of lights should be discarded and replaced.

Candles might be symbols of the holiday season, but a burning candle is dangerous and poses a risk of fire if it is knocked over. Instead of real candles, opt for electric candles that offer the look and atmosphere of the real thing without the fire risk.

Fireplace safety

Christmas stockings hung by the fireplace offers an image synonymous with the holiday season, but hanging them when a fire is burning can cause them to ignite and set fire to the room. If you must hang stockings from the mantel, do so only when there is no fire burning in the fireplace.

You can avoid damage caused by sparks and burning embers by using a fireplace screen whenever there is a fire burning. Using dried, seasoned logs and avoiding flammable liquids in the fireplace will help avoid mishaps.

When you need advice about a personal injury

Taking a few precautions during this holiday season can help avoid burns and other injuries caused by fires and holiday accidents. If you are injured in an accident this holiday season, the personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamondhave years of experience pursuing claims for compensation for accident victims. Don’t delay, contact our 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now about your claim. Consultations are free, and we have offices located throughout Ontario.