Holiday Fire Safety

Home Family Fire Safety Holiday Fire Safety

Stay safe during all of your
favorite holidays!

The holidays bring joy and entertainment to our lives, but often include activities that can lead to fires and burns. The following section outlines ways to enjoy the holidays without endangering yourself or others.

Tips To Stay Safe

Independence Day is a time of celebration, fireworks and family fun. Unfortunately, it can also provide ample opportunity for danger, particularly among children. Play it safe — watch a public display and leave fireworks to the professionals! (See Travel section for grilling, sun safety and campfire safety tips).

Safety Tips:

Fireworks are illegal in San Diego County and many locations throughout the country. Observe your state and local laws.
Never use illegal fireworks. If you see them being sold, alert the authorities in your area. Fireworks are classified as explosives and are regulated under Interstate Transportation laws in the U.S.
Consider safe alternatives for celebration. Attend a community fireworks display handled by professionals and observe bystander rules. Visit www.burninstitute.org for an annual listing of displays in San Diego County.
Help your children plan safe activities on Independence Day. Sparklers can reach 1800 degrees at the tip… they are not safe for children, (even if considered legal in your area). As a safe alternative, provide your children with glow-in-the-dark wands or noisemakers.
Teach your children about the dangers of fireworks and other explosives. Discourage children from trying them out — even once. Set a good example by never using fireworks yourself.
If you find firecrackers or other explosive substances around your home, call the local fire department’s non-emergency number for disposal guidelines. Do not dispose of them yourself. Too many unknowns — including age, moisture level and amount of explosive material — make the devices dangerous and unpredictable.
Never underestimate the inventiveness of children, who sometimes try to concoct homemade devices. Keep potentially hazardous materials like lighter fluid, charcoal lighter, gasoline and dry ice out of their reach.
If an accident occurs, call 9-1-1. Get immediate medical attention from experts who specialize in treating burns and other traumatic injuries.

On Halloween, it is especially challenging to keep little goblins safe. The combination of loose-fitting costumes and Jack-O-Lantern candles is enough to give even the most prepared adult a good fright. Keep an extra watchful eye on youngsters — and enjoy a safe and fun Halloween!

Safety Tips:

Purchase only flame-retardant costumes and accessories. Make sure costumes do not have baggy sleeves or extra long capes, which can easily brush against a candle and catch fire.
Dried cornstalks and similar types of decor are highly flammable. Keep them away from open flame and other heat sources.
Use candles with caution and supervise children around candles at all times; consider using battery-operated “flameless” candles as a safe alternative — even in your Jack-O-Lantern!
Rather than candles, use flashlights or “flameless” candles for decorating walkways and yards. Do not use paper luminary bags with an open flame candle.
Be sure your children know how to “STOP, DROP AND ROLL,” should their clothes catch fire. (It’s a good idea to practice this safety method throughout the year).
To ensure that passing motorists can see your children, have them wear reflective tape, or carry a lightweight flashlight or glow stick.

Families gather, children are underfoot and food is everywhere. Have a memorable holiday with your family and take sensible steps to avoid fire and burn injuries. Use caution in the kitchen (see Home section, “Cooking & Kitchen Safety”), and follow the safety tips, below, if using a deep fryer for your turkey dinner.

Safety Tips:

NEVER…

NEVER leave turkey fryers unattended.
NEVER overfill the fryer.
NEVER heat oil above the recommended temperatures.
NEVER move the fryer once it is in operation.

ALWAYS…

ALWAYS use turkey fryers outdoors.
KEEP fryers away from combustible materials.
ALWAYS place fryers on a flat, stable surface; watch for dangling cords.
ALWAYS thaw your turkey completely before placing in fryer.
ALWAYS follow the manufacturing recommendations.
ALWAYS use a thermometer to measure temperature.
ALWAYS keep children away from fryer (appliance and hot oil remain dangerous even after cooking!)
ALWAYS make sure the oil is completely cooled before removing it from the fryer.
In case of fire, call 9-1-1 immediately. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH WITH WATER!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Decorating your home and Christmas tree with colorful lights and ornaments is a great way to celebrate the season. But dry trees, candles and frayed electrical cords are just a few of the fire hazards to watch for. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make the holiday season safer and more enjoyable for all.

Holiday Recipe for Fire-Retardant Christmas Tree

INGREDIENTS:

2 gallons of hot water
2 cups clear Karo syrup
2 ounces liquid chlorine bleach
2 pinches of Epsom salts
One half-teaspoon Borax
One teaspoon chelated iron (can be found in garden section or local nursery)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place water in bucket and add all ingredients. Stir until ingredients are completely dissolved and set aside.

2. Make a fresh, level cut, 3-inches from the bottom of trunk.

3. Stand the trunk of the tree in the solution and leave for 24-hours.

4. Place your tree in a tree stand that contains a well for liquid.

5. When the tree has been positioned in the stand, use a plastic cup to pour the solution into the tree well. Safely store remaining solution.

6. Every day, top-off the well with the solution to keep your tree hydrated throughout the season!

NOTE: Take care to keep solution out of reach of thirsty pets and curious toddlers.

HOW THE SOLUTION WORKS:

The Karo Syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow base of the tree to absorb water. Up to 1.5 gallons of water can be absorbed by a typical tree over a two-week period. The boron in Borax allows the tree to move water and sugar out to every branch and needle in the tree. Magnesium compounds in the Epsom salts and iron from the chelated iron provide components for the production of chlorophyll to help keep the tree green. The bleach prevents mold from forming in the solution. Other benefits of the recipe include a noticeable increase in the tree’s natural evergreen fragrance – plus the tendency to shed fewer needles means less mess to clean up after the holidays!

Safety Tips:

To keep your tree hydrated, make a fresh cut at the base of the tree, cutting 2-3 inches off the bottom; the fresh cut surface will be creamy white and better able to absorb liquid.
After the cut is made, immediately put the tree in water (or hydrating solution). Choose a stand that holds at least one gallon of water.
Water the tree daily, (depending upon size, it may consume from a quart to a gallon of water per day!) A dry tree is a fire hazard.
Miniature lights produce less heat; less heat means less drying. If your lights are frayed or have cracked wiring or broken sockets, throw them away and purchase a new set.
Before leaving your home or going to bed, unplug tree lights and electronic ornaments.
Do not overload circuits!
Keep tree, wreaths and decorative tree boughs away from heat sources including heat vents, fireplaces, television sets and sunny windows. Take care to avoid blocking exit doors with rearranged furniture or tree.
After the holidays, remove the tree from your home. Remember, a dry tree can be totally consumed by fire in a matter of seconds. Trees treated with flame retardant can still dry out.
Never burn any part of a tree in the fireplace, (they burn too quickly and can be explosive!)