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BEAUFORT, S.C. - As the winter holidays approach, safety is a vital task that falls on everyone’s shoulders.
From cooking to decorating, there are many things that could go wrong. Holiday mishaps can easily be avoided by following simple safety tips, and knowing how to properly apply them.
Christmas trees are bought and sold earlier every year, and tend to dry up quickly without proper care.
When purchasing a live tree, be sure it’s still moist. The trunk has to be cut, and the tree must be watered daily.
“You shouldn’t place [Christmas trees] near a heating vent, fire place, candles, or anything that would dry it out,” said Joseph A. Otterbine, the lead fire inspector and fire investigator at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Fire-Rescue Department.
Trees fall, ornaments break, and holiday candles such as a Kwanzaa kinaras, or Hanukkah Menorahs can fall over causing burns or fires, so be sure to keep children at a safe distance.
“When it comes down to decorating your tree, be sure that all cords are safe to use,” said Otterbine. “Make sure there are no frays in wires, broken bulbs or overloading power outlets.”
Snuggling on the couch while drinking hot chocolate and watching holiday classics is common practice during the holiday season.
Those with fireplaces in their home should keep everything and everyone a safe distance from the fire. Do not burn any wrapping paper in fireplaces because embers can escape and cause uncontrolled fires.
Use the safety screen in front of your fireplace to make sure the fire is contained.
Many people like to burn their Christmas tree after the holidays. A dry Christmas tree will ignite in seconds.
“A room with a dry Christmas tree can ignite in 43 seconds,” said Otterbine.”You must have a plan, and keep in mind how fast you can get out.”
Properly disposing of trees at a landfill or taking them to get mulched are safer alternatives.
Visiting friends and family is one of the highlights of the holidays, and driving in winter weather conditions can be very dangerous.
Driving in the snow or on iced-over roads can cause drivers to lose control and cars to spin. Follow the speed limit, winterize your vehicle, and don’t drink and drive.
The holidays are a time of giving, sharing and holiday dinners. Turkeys are the meat of the season, and it’s important to know how to properly prepare, cook and operate the deep fryer or oven that it will be cooking in.
Deep fryers should only be used outdoors on a flat surface, at least 10 feet away from houses with the appropriate amount of oil.
The turkey should be completely thawed before frying, because ice and hot oil can be an explosive combination. The oil from deep fryers can overflow, and the flame underneath can ignite the oil and cause a fire.
Even in the cold, families go outside to decorate their homes. When decorating, don’t cut and splice decorative lights or overload a power strip with more than it’s designed to hold.
After the decorating is complete and the kids are in bed, be sure to check the decorations, and unplug anything that doesn’t need to be on.
“When you go to bed, the lights go to bed,” said Otterbine.
Be sure all fire extinguishers are up to date, smoke detector batteries are working, and there’s an emergency evacuation plan in place in case a mishap occurs.
Following safety hazards and knowing how to react in the event of an emergency can prevent accidents and save lives.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2014 15:19 |
| Story ID: | 150667 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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