Winter Holiday Safety Tips


12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety
More home fires happen on December 25 than any other single day except Thanksgiving. Fire officials are urging people to make fire safety part of the celebrations this holiday season. Start by making sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Have a home escape plan and share it with guests. Fires are always terrible but they seem worse during the festive holiday season.
Cooking is the leading cause, followed by heating. Many of the holidays celebrated at this time of year use candles. Candle fires peak in December and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are among the days when the most candle fires occur. So follow the safety tips below for a happy and safe holiday season.
Image of people celebrating

Water Christmas trees daily

 
decorated tree

Water fresh trees daily. Place trees away from heaters, fireplaces and candles, and keep pathways to exits clear.  More Tips .

Turn Off Lights

 
decorative lights

Consider switching to new LED lights that are cooler and use less electricity.  Turn off lights when you leave the house or go to bed.

Blow out candles

 
Image for Blow Out Candles

Always blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.  Burn candles inside a one-foot circle of safety, free of anything that can catch fire.

Stand by your pan; put a lid on it

 
Image of putting lid on a cooking fire

Cooking is the #1 cause of fires during the holidays, and most commonly occur when cooking is left unattended.  so Stand by Your Pan and always stay in the kitchen when cooking.  Take a timer with you when baking.  If a pan catches fire, Put a Lid On It to smother the flames and then turn off the heat.

Space heaters need space

 
Image of a space heater

Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn like curtains, upholstery, or holiday decorations.  Keep warm, keep safe this winter.

Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children links to PDF file

 
image of lighting candles with a lighter

Children may imitate adults lighting candles and using matches and lighters.   Keep them out of reach of children and preferably on your person.

Know how to get out

 
Image of fire escape plan

Develop and practice a home fire escape plan pdf format of home_escape_plans_indd.pdf<br /><br /><br /><br />
with 2 ways out and a meeting place outdoors.  In a fire, get out and stay out of the house and call 911 from a cell phone or neighbor’s house.

Have working smoke alarms

 
Image of a smoke alarm

You need working smoke alarms pdf format of smoke_detect_fire_factors.pdf<br /><br /><br /><br />
on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas.  Replace smoke alarms if they are over 10 years old.

Have working carbon monoxide alarms

 
Image of co alarm

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can quickly kill you.  Replace any carbon monoxide alarms over seven years old.

Use extension cords wisely

 
image of extension cord

Extension cords should only be used as a temporary connection.  Don’t overload them and match the cord to the appliance.  Never put cords under rugs as this can damage the cord and cause a fire.  More electrical fire safety tips.

Smoke outside

 
Image of smoking cigarette in an ashtray

Encourage smokers to do so outside, and provide them with a proper ashtray such as a can with sand in it.  Many fires are started by the improper disposal of smoking materials both indoors and out.

Drink responsibly

 
Image of alcohol bottle and drinking goblet

Keep a close eye on anyone cooking or smoking while under the influence of alcohol links to PDF file.  Alcohol is often a factor in fatal fires.

For more information on fire safety, contact the Harvard Fire Department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 1-877-9 NO FIRE or on-line at http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dfs/ and look for more Fire Safety Topics.