[E-updates] Day after Thanksgiving means holiday decorating, decorate with safety in mind

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE

City of Lawrence, Kansas

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006

CONTACT:  Mark Bradford, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical Chief,
(785) 830-7000

 

Day after Thanksgiving means holiday decorating, decorate with safety in
mind

 

(LAWRENCE, Ks) - As the community enters the holiday season and the
holiday decorating season, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical Chief
Mark Bradford reminds citizens that some precautions now can ensure the
holiday season is be merry and bright and safe. 

 

Perhaps the most common holiday decoration can also be a dangerous
holiday decoration.  "People are enjoying the holiday decorations and
scents and forget to extinguish candles," said Chief Bradford.  "Never
leave a candle burning when you go to bed or leave the room.  Candles
should always be placed away from curtains and other flammable
materials, including flammable holiday decorations.  Do not mix
decorations and candles unless candles are protected from items that can
burn."

 

Chief Bradford recommends the following to avoid hazards such as dried
out Christmas trees, unsafe lights and unattended burning candles could
prevent thousands of injuries.

 

Trees:

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green,
needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent
between your fingers. The trunk  butt of a fresh tree is sticky with
resin and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many
needles.

 

When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and
radiators. Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to
keep the stand filled with water.

 

Lights:

Indoors and outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by
a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.  

 

Do not use indoor lights outside.  Before using lights outdoors, check
labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.

 

Throw out damaged sets of lights.  If a socket is broken or cracked or a
wire is bare or frayed, throw out the lights.

 

Use no more than three standard-size sets of light per single extension
cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for intended use.

 

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm
supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Hooks are the preferred
way to string lights or use insulated staples not nails or tacks.

 

Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.

 

Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits
protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

 

Decorations:

Use only non-combustible or flame resistant materials to trim a tree.
Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. 

 

Never use candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use
non-flammable holders and place candles where they will not be knocked
down.

 

-END- 

 

 

_____________________________

 

Lisa K. Patterson |Communications Manager

City of Lawrence

PO Box 708 | Lawrence, KS 66044

(785) 832-3406

fax (785) 832-3405

lpatterson at ci.lawrence.ks.us

www.lawrenceks.org

 

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