CPSC Urges Consumers to Decorate Safely for
the Holidays
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds
consumers that the holiday season should be merry and bright, not
dangerous.
Avoiding hazards such as dried out Christmas trees, unsafe
lights and unattended burning candles could prevent thousands of injuries.
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such
as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas
trees. In addition, there are 11,600 candle-related fires each year, resulting
in 150 deaths, 1200 injuries and $173 million in property loss annually.
Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually,
resulting in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of more than $10 million in
property loss and damage.
"Sometimes people are having such a nice time during the holidays that they
forget to extinguish candles," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton.
"Always put out lit candles before leaving a room or going to bed. Always
keep burning candles within sight. Also, make sure your holiday lights bear the
mark of a
recognized testing lab to show they meet safety standards."
CPSC monitors holiday lights and decorations at stores nationwide. Since
2001, the Commission has prevented the import of 116,500 units of holiday lights
that did not meet safety standards.
CPSC suggests following these tips to make your holiday a safe one:
Trees:
* When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire
Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it
does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
* When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green,
needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your
fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on
the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
* When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators.
Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block
doorways.
Lights:
* Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a
recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
* 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. Always
replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
* Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
* Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with
electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be
electrocuted.
* Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified
for outdoor use.
* Stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles into older
homes.
* Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports
to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold
strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks
(available at hardware stores).
* Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights
could short out and start a fire.
* Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on
lights - they could unravel and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
* Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits
protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs
can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed
permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations:
* Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose
tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials
are hazardous if ingested by children.
* Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use
non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
* In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are
sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach
of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid
trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
* Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass
"angel hair."
* Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while
decorating with artificial snow sprays.
Fireplaces:
* Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown
on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal
irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
* Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as
wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Get a free brochure with more holiday decorating safety tips at CPSC's web site www.cpsc.gov
.
Brochure link: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/611.html
.
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