Public Safety: Fire Safety Tips for the Holidays

By Lisa M. Grisham, CPSTI

 

While gratitude and celebration are prevalent during the holidays, unfortunately danger and devastation from fires are also quite common this time of
the year. More than half of all home fires happen in the winter months. In most
cases, these disasters are preventable with a few precautions.

Thanksgiving is a time of large gatherings and great food. But did you know that Thanksgiving is also the peak day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment? On this day, our homes have a lot of activity in the kitchen and more people around — and kids love to be part of the preparations.

 

Here are a few tips to keep everyone safe:

• Stay in the kitchen while using the stove top and keep an eye on the food.
• Remain in the home when cooking your turkey and check it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. Create a 3-foot perimeter or “safety zone” where children may not enter.
• Make sure children are kept away from hot foods and liquids. Steam from these can cause serious burns.
• Be sure the floor is clear of tripping hazards.
• Unplug appliances when not in use and make sure cords are not dangling within a child’s reach.
• Keep knives, matches, and lighters out of children’s reach.
• Place items like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, and loose clothing away from the stove top.
• Keep a pan lid close by in case you need to smother a small fire on the stove top.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and leave the oven door closed.
• Make sure you have a small fire extinguisher on hand for minor emergencies. If you have any reservations about fighting a small kitchen fire, just get out! Call 911 from outside.
• Avoid the use of outdoor, gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. The National Fire Protection Association discourages them.

 

After Thanksgiving, many families celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and/or New Year’s holidays, and that means holiday decorations, cooking, and parties. Winter holidays also lead to a greater risk for fire due to increased candle use, poor electrical connections or faulty wires, and dry Christmas trees.

 

Follow these simple tips to ensure a happy and safe celebration:

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep candles away from children, pets, curtains, and decorations. Never leave the house or go to sleep with candles still burning.
• Make sure to use outdoor strings of lights if you hang them outside your home.
• Replace lights if they have loose bulb connections or worn/broken cords.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are operational. Test them once a month and replace the batteries once a year. Replace the smoke alarm every 10 years.
• Practice your home escape plan and teach guests what to do in case of a fire.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside and provide a way for them to discard cigarette butts safely.
• Choose a tree with fresh green needles or use an artificial tree.
• Water live trees daily to keep them from drying out and place them away from heat sources.
• Turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Make sure to keep a 3-foot perimeter around any heating sources.