Best Christmas Tree Safety Tips for Families
Keep Kids, Pets, Home Safe From Real Christmas Tree Hazards
Nov 3, 2009
The family piles into the wagon while the gray sky looms ahead. Snowflakes land on the glass window, one by one, slowing cracking and melting. Christmas is approaching soon, but the perfect live tree still needs to be hunted and chopped, brought into the warm house and lovingly decorated.
As childhood jingles float through the vehicle, thoughts of gifts and good food and visits with family excite even the most overworked soul. After trudging through the soft white powder, the perfect tree looms ahead. A little bit of labor, and soon the fresh pine scent will fill the home with the promises of Christmas.
Christmas tree safety may not be on the forefront of people’s minds during the holiday season, but it is every bit as important as finding the perfect tree. These simple tips can help ensure a glorious, disaster-free Christmas that the entire family will enjoy.
Fresh Christmas Tree Display
According to Carol Orsag Madigan, author of Life’s Big Instruction Book, a fresh Christmas tree tends to be less of a fire hazard than a dried out one. For this reason, load the family up to find the perfect tree shortly before Christmas, rather than a month in advance. One way to tell if the tree is still fresh is by its needles. If the needles are pliable, and can retain its original shape after being bent, then it is fresh.
New Year’s Day is a good day to not only set new resolutions, but to remove the Christmas tree in order to reduce the fire hazard.
Placement of the tree is always a factor in its safety as well. A fresh Christmas tree is safest for the family when it is not in direct sunlight or near direct sources of heat.
Preparing the Live Christmas Tree
Trimming the trunk of a fresh Christmas tree is a step that cannot be skipped when preparing a fresh Christmas tree. After it is trimmed and secured in a stand, be sure that water is in the stand at all times to prevent it from drying out.
When the family comes together to decorate the fresh-cut tree, be sure to follow certain safety precautions with the lighting. Rather than candles, use lights that are Underwriters Laboratory-approved. If the lights are damaged or are not cool to the touch, discard them. Avoid tangling the cords around the tree, and turn off all Christmas tree lights when leaving the home.
Real Christmas Tree Safety in the Home
Christmas tree safety should be a priority for all homeowners. People with pets should avoid allowing the animal to be in the room with a tree alone, as this can lead to a disaster. Those with young children can consider using string or ribbon to hang ornaments rather than wire hooks to prevent an emergency room visit.
When all safety precautions have been utilized, it is time to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa in front of the picture window, staring into the star-filled, snowing sky. These safety tips will help ensure that the greatest Christmas gift has been both given and received: protecting one’s family.
Sources:
- Life’s Big Instruction Book, Carol Orsag Madigan, Published by Warner Books, January 1995.
HOL101
 |
 |
