Buying a natural Christmas tree is a highlight of winter for many American families.
A tree can be a wonderful element in creating the holiday atmosphere that is associated with the holiday season, but it must be treated with respect.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, natural Christmas trees caused an average of 240 fires attended by U.S. fire departments annually from 2005 to 2009.
Some of these fires resulted in serious damage and tragedy as 13 people died and 27 were injured each year. Property damage reached $16.7 million per year.
When you're out searching for the perfect tree, take your time looking over the selection before you buy.
Make sure needles are green. They should not break easily, and should be hard to pull back from a branch.
The tree trunk should be sticky. Bouncing the trunk on the ground should not result in needles falling off.
Make a point of keeping your Christmas tree and your decorations clear of the exits to your home in the event of needing a quick getaway.
When you put up your tree, keep it away from heat sources. This doesn't just include fireplaces or woodstoves.
A heating vent can also be drying to your tree, and a dry tree is an easily-ignited tree.
Christmas decorations can brighten up your home but here too, plan for safety first. Take the time to meticulously inspect all strings of lights for any breaks, frays or cracked sockets.
If the cords are kinked or look worn, cease your decorating until you've replaced them. Go easy on your electrical outlets. Don't overload them with too many strings of lights.
Candles need to be treated with great care. Their holders must be secure and placed so there is no chance of being knocked over. Keep 12 inches of space between the candles and ... well, everything else. Don't use them in sleeping areas.
Candles used to be placed on Christmas trees but that is an old tradition that should stay relegated to the past. A lit candle on a tree is an invitation to trouble.
Make sure your decorations are nonflammable and are kept well away from any heat sources. Keep cigarettes and ashes away from your tree.
Your tree stand should always be filled with water. A dry tree can add to the risk equation for fire.
Along with shorts in your electrical wires, and any lit candles, matches and lighters can light the spark with dry trees.
Wrapping paper should never be disposed of in the fireplace or woodstove to prevent the possibility of a chimney fire.
And when it's time to take down your tree, don't give in to the temptation of putting loose needles or branches in a woodstove or fireplace, no matter how romantic it may seem. This can be a fire hazard.
At the end of the festivities, your tree should be left out for pickup, or taken to a recycling center.
Sources:
Winter/Holiday Safety. Nfpa.org. Retrieved Dec. 9, 2012.
http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=301&itemID=19027&URL=Resea...
Holiday and Christmas Tree Fire Safety. Usfa.fema.gov. Retrieved Dec. 9, 2012.
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/holida...
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Reviewed December 10, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN