Residents are implored to keep the “happy” in “happy holidays” by making sure you don’t fall victim to the many common, but preventable, Christmas dangers this holiday season, according to the Bradford City Fire Department.
“There are honestly so many fire and safety hazards that come up right around the holidays, that we advise all homeowners to take extra precaution to avoid chaos this Christmas,” said fireman Michael Valine. “From Christmas trees to decorative lights and the wealth of food, desserts and beverages, there’s a lot of potential danger, but nothing that can’t be easily prevented as long as you’re aware.”
And one of the biggest concerns during the holiday season — fire.
“Always inspect lights before you hang and plug them in,” Valine said. “Check for frayed wires, broken bulbs and sockets, and loose connections — those problems indicate fire and electrocution hazards. Keep in mind that the larger a bulb is, the more heat it’ll drive, so inspect surfaces after your first light-up to monitor for possible damage.”
Regardless of your preferences (colored, uncolored, large bulbs, or small) make sure the box you pick up has a UL seal on it, Valine continued. UL-certified products have undergone testing for durability and safety. Finally, use as few power cords as possible to prevent overloading and only use lights marked for outdoor use in your exterior lighting displays.
“Make sure not to run extension cords under the carpets — electricity emits heat and energy, so when you put an electric cord under something, it has no air and overheats the circuit and the wire because the carpet smothers it,” Valine explained. “As long as it’s not hidden underneath the carpet where it can’t displace the heat, you’re fine.”
Additionally, be sure not to plug too many lights into the same outlet at once, he noted.
“Christmas lights don’t draw a lot of amperage, but when you start putting large sums of them on one circuit, you can overdraw the circuit. Just bear in mind the amount of lighting you put into one circuit,” Valine said. “And always turn the lights off when you’re not around.”
Christmas trees should be placed in a sturdy stand rated for the tree’s size and positioned in a low-traffic area, where pets and children won’t pose a tip-over risk that could end in a potential fire, he added.
“If it’s a real tree, be sure to keep it watered so it doesn’t dry out and become easily flammable,” he described. “If it’s an artificial one, make sure it isn’t placed near the fireplace or any open flames, like candles, because the plastic material can also catch a spark.”
Tossing wrapping paper into the fireplace may seem harmless enough, but doing so poses a flash fire risk. Split hardwood is the best thing to burn, and make sure your chimney is swept and the fireplace is maintained before you light it up. Never light candles — responsible for tens of thousands of fires every year — near your holiday tree or where pets and children may be playing; an open flame near a dry tree (indicated by the shedding of excessive needles) is a major holiday fire hazard, Valine explained.
Meanwhile, when decorating, avoid real or artificial candy and popcorn that may lure children to tug at the tree and pose choking hazards if they take a bite.
“Also be cautious with glass ornaments, which can shatter easily and cause cuts,” Valine said.
Young children tend to enjoy touching things and putting objects in their mouths, he continued, so parents should keep a close eye on what decoratives children can reach.
“Watch for glass bulbs that look like food to them, cover outlets with outlet plugs so they can’t put anything in them — simple things you’d normally do anyways with children at home,” he said.
Keep small children and animals away from seasonal plants. This includes mistletoe berries, holly berries, the fruit of Jerusalem Cherry, the leaves and twigs of boxwood and all parts of yew plants.
If you’re baking this holiday, keep your ingredients stored in a high cabinet and not a place where your furry friend could get to them. Theobromine, a compound present in chocolate that is toxic to dogs but not humans, could cause a range of symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, coma, or even death. Potential toxic doses vary by breed size and weight, but unsweetened cocoa and baking chocolate pose the highest risk, while milk chocolate is least threatening. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic amount of chocolate, call your local veterinarian or SPCA.
Though Valine said he’d never had any issues with pet harm in the area during the holidays, he noted “you can never be too careful.”
It’s important to keep walkways clear of snow and ice to prevent injury from slips and falls. But, it’s just as important to make sure you’re shoveling correctly so as not to hurt yourself. Avoid pulling your back by bending at the knees, keeping your back straight, tightening your stomach muscles and lifting with your legs.
Every year, more than 500,000 people are injured as a result of falling off of ladders, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If you’re hanging holiday lights this year, don’t do it alone; a pair of helping hands goes a long way to ensuring your safety.
“Make sure your ladder is level, don’t overreach, and don’t ascend the ladder with your hands full,” Valine explained. “Always have someone else with you, just in case.”
And lastly, but perhaps most important, update and maintenance all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to avoid life-threatening occurrences.
Valine advised, “As temperatures begin to drop, make sure you’re verifying that all detectors are working because furnaces ignite and can emit harmful chemicals that can be deadly, or cause a fire that will, once again, most certainly crash your holiday Christmas party.”
