Keeping Safe While Decorating for the Holidays
You are more likely to have second thoughts about climbing up the roof for your annual Christmas light decoration when you learn about the latest statistics released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or the SPSC. According to their data, U.S. hospitals have received about 12,500 emergency cases of falls, cuts and shock linked to holiday lights, Christmas trees and holiday decorations.
The SPSC report also shows that candles have accidentally caused 11,600 fires in residences, resulting to 1,200 personal injuries, 1,200 deaths and the loss of $173 million worth of property. Christmas tree lighting meanwhile are being blamed for starting 300 fires burning $10 million worth of property, 30 injuries and 10 casualties.
Keep lighted candles within sight and always have the presence of mind to put out lit candles before sleeping or doing out of the room. CPSC chairman Hal Stratton advocates buying only holiday lights that bear the mark of a licensed testing laboratory to assure that they conform to safety standards.
Since CPSC started monitoring holiday lights and decorations sold at stores nationwide, inspectors have prevented the import of 116,500 units of holiday lights that did not meet safety standards.
To make your holiday safe, CPSP suggests buying tress that are fire resistant. While it can still catch fire, it will be easier to extinguish. Limit your choice to fresh ones if you prefer natural trees. The needles must be hard to pull out and does not fall off when the tree is shaken. Natural trees must be set away from the fireplace and other heat sources that can make them dry very quickly.
Buy only holiday lights that have been certified safe by recognized testing laboratories to assure that they conform to safety regulations. The plugs must have built in busses for added safety and never use electric lights on metallic trees. Check each light for damage, especially those that have been used before and replace each busted bulb with the same kind. Limit your connection to three regular sized light strands per extension cord, and check if the extension cord can carry the intended load.
Follow container instructions to avoid respiratory irritation while using artificial snow sprays and wear gloves to prevent skin irritation when making angel hair spun glass. Refrain from using decorations that appears like food or candy when you have kids at home to prevent then from accidentally eating them. Limit you decorations to flame resistant and non combustible materials and avoid sharp objects , leaded materials and glass decorations that are hazardous when swallowed by children.
Natural trees can easily catch fire. Use only freshly cut trees and avoid placing them near fireplaces and other warm areas that can cause them to dry faster. When buying artificial trees, choose only those that have fire resistant rating. This does not guarantee that they will not catch fire but simply means that In the event that they do catch fire, they will be easier to extinguish.
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