Safety Education
Holiday Safety Tips
By FF/EMT Skipper
Dec 6, 2005, 08:36

The Eden Fire Company would like to wish the community that we serve and all of our friends a safe and happy holiday season. We at the Eden Fire Company would like to extend these safety tips to everyone. Following these safety tips will help to ensure that everyone remembers the 2005 holiday season fondly. Happy Holidays!

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips
• Choose a fresh tree. Tap the tree on the ground, a
fresh tree should not lose many needles.
• Cut off an inch of the trunk just prior to placing
the tree in water, this will allow for better
absorption of water. Keeping the tree properly
hydrated makes it less of a fire hazard.
• A six foot tree should absorb about a gallon of
water per day.
• CHECK TREE WATER DAILY.
• Do not place a Christmas tree near sources of heat
such as fire places, radiators, candles, or space
heaters.
• Turn off Christmas lights when you are asleep or
not home.
• Do not burn the tree in the fireplace.
• Do not connect more than three strands of lights
together.
• Use a step ladder when hanging lights above head
height.
• Never use candles on a Fresh or Artificial tree.


Electrical Safety
• Use surge protector strips whenever possible.
• DO NOT OVERLOAD CIRCUITS.
• Be sure to use indoor lights indoors only.
• Inspect all extension cords for cracking and wear
before using them.
• Extension cords should be used only temporarily.
• Do not place outdoor electrical connectors in
areas that are prone to standing water or snow
cover.
• Remember to check for overhead wires when using
ground ladders for hanging lights in elevated
locations.

Home Safety
• Have furnaces inspected before each winter season.
• Inspect and clean the chimney each year.
• DO NOT BURN HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER IN THE
FIREPLACE. The polymers in wrapping paper can
cause a flammable coating to cover the inner walls
of the firebox and the chimney.
• Install a Carbon Monoxide detector.
• If operating a gas fireplace, ensure that there is
no smoke or excessive soot in the fireplace.
Either of these two conditions could mean that
your fireplace is burning inefficiently and is
giving off excess Carbon Monoxide.
• DO NOT LEAVE CANDLES BURN UNATTENDED.
• Smoke detector batteries should be changed each
winter, make it a family tradition like gift
exchanges or singing carols.

Clark Griswold wants you to have a safe and happy holiday season.

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