SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON Cooking Did you know that cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and injuries in the U.S.? And that unattended cooking is by far the leading cause of cooking fires? At holiday time, there’s often a lot more cooking going on in the kitchen than usual, so it’s especially important to follow these precautions: • Stay alert and check on cooking regularly. • Make sure there is always an adult in the kitchen when thestove is on. • Keep kids away from cooking area. • Always turn the stove off when leaving the kitchen, even for a moment. • Keep flammable items away from heat, such as potholders and oven mitts, bags and boxes, towels and curtains. • Use cooking appliances according to the manufacturer’s directions. • Check batteries in smoke alarms regularly. Heating Did you know that heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and home-fire deaths? And that December, January and February are the leading months for home heating fires? To remain safe during the winter cold, remember: • Keep a three-foot clearance between all heating equipment and anything that can burn. • Never use your oven to heat your home. • When buying a new space heater, make sure it is labeled showing that it has been tested by a recognized testing laboratory. • Space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed. • Space heater power cords should be plugged directly into wall outlets and never into an extension cord. • Always supervise children when space heaters are being used. Holiday Decorating Who doesn’t enjoy decorating for the holidays? Did you know that a heat source that is too close to decorations is a factor in half of home fires that begin with decorations? A beautiful tree, sparkling lights and warm candles can make a home shine, but when decorations are not used carefully, they can be extremely dangerous. Tips on Buying Christmas Trees: Artificial Trees: Always look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not guarantee that the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and that if it does begin to burn, it should extinguish quickly. Live Trees: Be sure to check for freshness. A fresh tree is green and the needles are hard to pull from the branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. Keep a live tree watered: A dry live tree is a serious fire hazard. Heat contributes to a tree becoming dry, so be sure to place it away from radiators and keep the stand filled with water. Have a few inches cut from the bottom of the trunk before you bring it home; the fresh cut will allow it to drink up more water and retain moisture. Decorating the Tree: Whether your tree is artificial or live, decorating it requires some important checks. Overloaded electrical outlets, faulty wires and flammable materials are a common cause of holiday fires, so: • Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. • Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. • Do not overload electrical outlets. No more than three strings of lights should be connected together and plugged into one outlet. • Light cords should never be pinched by furniture, forced into small spaces such as doors or windows, placed under rugs, located near heat sources, or attached by nails or staples. • Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house as they could short out and start a fire. • Use only non-combustible or flame- resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles made of plastic or non-leaded metals. Candles: Candles should always be used with caution, but did you know that over 10% of fires caused by candles occur in the month of December alone? Did you know that the top three days for home candle-fires are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day? To prevent a fire from a candle, always follow these safeguards: • Never leave burning candles unattended; be sure to blow them out whenever you leave a room, even for a short time. • Do not keep candles within reach of children. • Never leave a room with a lit candle; be sure to extinguish all candles completely before going to sleep. • Do not burn candles near trees, curtains or any other flammable items. • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. • Always use non-flammable holders and place candles where they cannot be knocked over. • For optimal safety, use battery- operated flameless candles. Enjoying a Fire safety is an issue that burns brightest from late November to mid-January, the time of year when families and friends gather to celebrate over the holidays. By taking some basic precautions, you can ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe and injury-free not only during the holiday season but throughout the year. DON’T Let the Home Fires Burn! 8 WWW.QNS.COM • LEFRAK CITY COURIER • DECEMBER 2015
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