Top 3 Christmas Tree Catastrophes
Last night if you were watching NBC you may have seen the official lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City. Typically, this is an event that gets many homeowners ready to set up their own Christmas tree at home. Whether your Christmas tree is artificial, real, 12-feet tall or resembling the Charlie Brown tree- there is always some slight risk in setting up a tree in your home. Know the safety precautions so that you can avoid the Top 3 Christmas Tree Catastrophes:
Christmas tree fires
According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas tree fires may not be common, but they are known to cause serious injuries and death as well as severe home damage. Christmas tree fires only require a spark which commonly comes from faulty wiring on lights or a nearby fireplace. For this reason, make sure you thoroughly examine the wiring on your light strings to check for any frays or uncased wires. Also, position your tree in a part of your home where it is a safe distance from heat sources and open flames. Lastly, the National Christmas Tree Association reports that when it comes to real trees, a well-watered tree is much less likely to ignite than a tree that is kept more dry.
Electrical Hazards
A Christmas tree alone is not likely to ever post an electrocution risk, however, pile on strings of lights and overcrowded electrical outlets and you’ve got a recipe for a strong electrical shock. Again, making sure lights are in good working order is one way to prevent this. Another is to make sure you don’t overload outlets by using a power strip which can safely handle multiple plugs.
Choking
If you have children or pets (or plan on hosting either of them in your home this Holiday season) it’s important to keep in mind the specific threats that Christmas trees can pose to them. Small children and animals will be curious about small lights, ornaments and ornament hooks which pose a choking hazard. Keep these types of items out of arm’s reach or opt for child-safe decorations to avoid any issues.
Now you’re ready to get decorating!
