The countdown to Christmas is on! With all of the holiday cheer in the air it can be easy to overlook some basic Christmas safety precautions, so we wanted to compile some helpful tips to protect you, your family, and your home this holiday season.
Tips:
Christmas Tree
Make sure all breakable decorations are hung at the top of the tree and out of reach of small children and pets.
Bubble lights contain liquid that is harmful if ingested, ensure they are out of reach for children and pets.
Metallic Christmas trees and electric lights can be a shocking combination!
Make sure your artificial snow is nontoxic, may cause skin rashes upon contact.
If you are using a real tree hose it down before bringing it inside, this gets rid of the existing mold that they are carrying that could have developed from the time it was cut to the time you got it home.
If you are using a live tree make sure the base of the tree is always immersed in water, dry trees ignite very easily!
Before you put lights on your tree ensure that none of the bulbs are broken.
Do not put your tree near a heater or fireplace.
Do not plug any more than 3 stands of lights into an extension cord, try to disperse the cords to different outlets in your home.
Turn all indoor Christmas lights off when leaving your home or going to sleep.
Each year during the holiday season Christmas tree related fires cause over $900 million dollars in damage in the US.
Outdoor lighting
Outdoor lights bring so much joy to your neighborhood, it is important that you are aware of these helpful tips this Christmas season
Make sure that your outdoor lighting is intended for exterior use.
All cords used outdoors must be weather resistant.
Do not plug more than three strands of lights into one extension cord.
When hanging lights outside do not nail the lights to any surface, if a nail goes through the wire insulation this can start a fire.
Christmas Tree Removal
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we are left with a frail tree that needs to be disposed. There are a few things you need to know about disposing your tree after the holidays.
Make sure you thoroughly undecorate the tree.
Leave no ornaments or any traces of tinsel.
Tinsel is toxic if ingested by wildlife.
If your tree if over 6ft tall cut it, most removal services won’t take it if its “too big”
In Florida the first two weeks of January trees under 6 ft will be collected curbside.
Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace, Christmas tree sap is highly flammable and can cause a chimney fire.
Have you ever wondered what they do with all the Christmas trees? Well so have I! I did a little digging and found out that most disposal services put the trees in a wood chipper and use the chips for mulch. In Florida the mulch is typically processed then available for residence for free of charge. Check your county website for more details on mulch collection.
In the event of a fire, know who to call for restoration, learn more about Fire Damage here.
For more info on how to dispose your Christmas tree in your area visit the link below.