Safety Screens

Many families and homes in the United States to do some kind of home decorating during the months of November and December. Christmas is by far the most decorated party in this country. However, accidents and injuries are also common decoration during the holidays. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 10,000 people visit emergency rooms each year because of accidents related to holiday decorating. To decorate your house, it is important to follow certain safety precautions to protect yourself and your property.

Safety first and foremost, Christmas tree. Some people believe that real trees are fire hazards. For most, this is false, provided they are kept watered. A well hydrated Christmas tree is no more risk of a fire retardant artificial tree. There are automatic waterers Christmas tree on the market today that make the task of watering your tree much easier. Instead of having to remember to water the tree every day, you simply fill the reservoir of the tree watering, and it will do the work for you for several days or a week.

It is also important to check your Christmas lights before using them. Strings of lights should be checked for frayed cords, broken bulbs, or other signs of damage. Do not take chances with the old lights! If it looks like they have outlived their useful life discard them. There are many organizations that recycle Christmas lights now, registering online at a location near you.

Make sure you do not plug too many strings of lights into one outlet or extension cords. You should carefully read and follow all safety instructions that come with your lights. A good rule of thumb is no more than three strings of lights plugged into one outlet. Extension of security is also significant. Do not run extension cords under carpets, because this can cause wear over time. Outside the home, you must also take care not to pass the extension cord across driveways or sidewalks where they could be a tripping hazard for pedestrians.

Of all the dangers of Christmas decorations, candles, play the largest role in holiday accidents and injuries. According to the CPSC, as many as 14,000 house fires occur each year due to candles, and fires result in about 170 deaths. The best way to play it safe with candles is simply not to use them at all. If you must burn candles, make sure to keep away from children and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended. It is also important to keep the flames away from anything that might be flammable such as curtains and draperies, and other paper wrapped package, and live or artificial trees and greenery.

Candles are not the only source of open flame during the holidays. When the weather turns cold, many families like to have fires in their fireplaces or wood stoves. It is important to take precautions with these types of fires, too. Remember to keep young children and pets away from fireplaces and stoves to avoid burns. In addition, it is important to have a good safety screen in front of a fire so that burst of sparks do not ignite the carpet or other nearby objects. If not hang down your home, make sure they are far enough that the heat or popping sparks do catch fire, either. Special salts used to produce colored flames should also be kept away from children and animals because they can be toxic when ingested.

Remember, this is the season of Christmas Magic safely and soundly. No family has a holiday devoted to the emergency room! With a little common sense and common safety rules of thumb, you can make holidays a pleasant and safe for you and your family.