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For many people, decorating the Christmas tree is a favourite part of the holiday season and adds to the spirit of Christmas. However, with the addition of a Christmas tree to your home, the risk of fire and other household accidents increases.
“There are simple steps you can take to ensure you and your family are safe and secure during the holidays,” says Tony Irwin, Allstate spokesperson. “By putting a few precautionary plans in place, people can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday casualty,” he adds.
Allstate wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday season and offers the following safety tips to ensure a fire or other accident doesn’t spoil your holiday:
Picking your Christmas Tree…
- Select a tree that is fresh – this means all its needles are completely green.
- Test the needles – for spruce or pine, needles should bend, not break and be difficult to pull from the branches. For fir trees, needles should snap when bent. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.
- Make sure to cut off about two inches of the trunk – most tree farms or retailers will do this for you if you ask. This will help the tree absorb water.
- When you get the tree inside your home, make sure to use a sturdy tree stand and keep it regularly filled with water to maintain the tree’s freshness.
- Keep your tree away from any heat sources including fireplaces, radiators and baseboard heaters.
Decorating with Lights…
- Only use indoor lights inside and outdoor lights outside. They give off varying degrees of heat so it is very important to obey the directions.
- Go through each strand of lights and check for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Keep lights unplugged until you have changed the bulbs or made the necessary repairs.
- To avoid over-drawing power, plug no more than three light sets into one extension cord.
- Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Consider using a timer for outdoor lights.
Adding Tree Ornaments…
- Always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places.
- While pretty, DO NOT use lit candles on a tree or near any possibly flammable decorations.
- If you have small children or pets, place small or breakable ornaments on higher branches where little ones can’t reach them.
- Check that materials such as tinsel or garland are not resting on any tree lights as it could become a fire hazard.
For more information or other suggestions for holiday safety tips or to arrange an interview with Tony Irwin, Allstate’s official spokesperson, please contact:
Karen Nussbaum
Thornley Fallis Communications
(416) 515-7517, ext. 334 / (647) 294-3321
nussbaum@thornleyfallis.com
