Tis the Season to Be Careful

The holidays are one of the best times of the year. But in all the joyous celebrations and festivities it is important to keep in mind some critical and potentially life saving tips during the holiday season. This article will offer some simple guidelines to follow to help keep your home and family safe.

Smoke Detectors
It is critical to take the time and make sure your smoke detectors work properly. Smoke detectors operate on batteries, and batteries over time will wear out and die. Once the battery is dead, the smoke detector will not do its job by recognizing the signs of a potential fire / smoke. When a smoke detector recognizes smoke in the air, it emits an ear piercing sound that will wake anyone from a sleep no matter how deep a sleeper.

1. At least once a year, go to the store and purchase brand new batteries and replace the batteries in every smoke detector in your house or apartment.

2. It is a good idea to keep the manual in a file folder and store it where you can easily find it. If you no longer have the manual, go online and find your model, print out the manual and store it. Read the manual to understand how to properly change the batteries and test the smoke detector.

3. Purchase new smoke detectors before they pass their expected life. Usually this is about 10 years but check your manual as different models vary.

Fire Extinguishers
1. It is important to keep a Fire Extinguisher in your house with easy access.

2. Keep more than 1 fire extinguisher in the house if necessary. If you have a fire in one part of the house such as the dining room or kitchen, but you keep your fire extinguisher in the basement, you are increasing the safety risk by having a longer distance to go and get the extinguisher and then return to where the fire is.

3. Keep in mind that fire extinguishers do have a shelf life, therefore take the time to make sure your fire extinguisher has not passed its expiration date. Fire extinguishers can be purchased at any hardware store such as Lowes or Home Depot. They range in price anywhere from $15.00 up to $70 or more. It depends on the size and make.

4. If you are too busy to go to a store and purchase one, go to Lowes and purchase one online to be shipped to you.

About Tree Safety
There is often a misconception that artificial trees are safer than real live trees. This is not the case. Remember, a live tree does not "cause"fires, but they can catch on fire, under certain circumstances. By properly taking care of your live tree and being mindful of potential fire hazards, you are well on your way to a safe holiday.

About Live Trees
1. A well watered tree is a safe tree. It is critical to check the water level on a daily basis and keep the water basin filled at all times. A freshly cut tree will drink lots of water and without this water it will begin to dry more quickly. A well watered tree is extremely difficult to catch on fire. Have you ever gone camping and tried to start a fire with damp twigs? If so, you know when starting a fire, you always look for old dead dry twigs. Moist or damp wood is never used to start a fire because it is near impossible. View photos of a tree which did not burn during a house fire at: http://christmas-tree.com/fire/.

2. A dry tree is a fire hazard and should not be kept in the house. If your tree becomes dry, remove it from the house and dispose of it properly. If you are unsure how to dispose of your tree, contact your local garbage collector for instructions.

3. You can tell when a live tree becomes dry when the needles start falling off and it begins to lose its bright green color. Do not wait until the tree is brown and bare to decide to remove it from the house.

4. Keep live Christmas trees away from heat sources such as fire places, radiators and candles. Any heat source will dry out a tree and this is what we want to avoid. Remember, it is a dry tree which is an unsafe tree.

5. Your live tree should come with some instructions for properly caring for it, follow these instructions. They are there for your safety. If you have any questions, contact the company where you bought the tree, they will be happy to help you.

6. Lastly, when decorating a live tree, be certain to use proper lights. Lights do give off heat and this too can cause a tree to become dry. Be careful not to use too many lights and never use outdoor lights on the tree.

7. Check the lights for any faulty wiring and broken bulbs. If it cannot be repaired, throw them out and buy new ones which are safe. Do not put lights with faulty wiring or broken bulbs on a tree, it is dangerous and should never be done. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.

About Artificial Trees
There is a misconception that artificial trees are less of a fire hazard than live trees, but this is actually not the case. The only type of live tree which would be at greater risk of fire is a tree which has become dry.

If however, an artificial tree is still the tree of choice, then take the time to learn some basic precautions.

1. Use low watt lights made for indoor decorating only. Never use outdoor lighting on indoor trees.

2. Do not overload power circuits. This goes for anywhere in the house, not just for Christmas decorations.

3. Do not place the tree near a fireplace, heaters or candles. Artificial trees are manufactured with plastic materials that burn and melt when in contact with excessive heat. Even a small candle can melt plastic.

4. Read the labels. Artificial trees may come with a label stating they are ìFire Resistantî but this does not mean they are "Fire Proof". Do not be under the misconception that artificial trees can not catch on fire. At least make sure your tree has a "Fire Resistant" label.

Keep your holidays safe by following these tips and you are well on your way to a comfortable and safe holiday for your home and your family. To learn about the top 10 Myths about Christmas Trees visit the National Christmas Tree Association.

Merry Christmas!

Author Bio: Elizabeth Krause grew up in a home where Christmas was a joyous occasion with lots of food and good music such as listening to a Frank Sinatra Christmas album and other great Italian Americans from that era. Today she celebrates her Christmas with her husband and long time pet cat. She enjoys cooking Italian food and has her own website where she posts simple Italian food recipes for the public to use. She also offers suggestions for various Italian gourmet gift baskets for friends or family members. She wishes everyone a peaceful, safe and blessed holiday season.