Decorate safely for holidays

BY ERIN CAVIN | FOR THE OLYMPIAN • Published December 04, 2008

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Holiday decorations, especially candles and electrical lighting, can be fire hazards.

Safe Kids Thurston County reminds parents and caregivers to take a few precautions when decorating for winter festivities.

Every year, candles start more than 18,000 home fires in the United States and twice as many home fires in December as in any other month, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Lit candles should never be left unattended or placed on a tree or wreath or near curtains or drapes. Matches and lighters should be locked out of reach.

If you decorate a tree, follow these precautions:

Never leave a lit Christmas tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Don’t run an electrical cord under a rug.

Natural Christmas trees always involve a risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree near a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent. LED lights burn cooler than incandescent lights and pose a lower risk of fire.

Decorate with kids in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks or look like food on lower branches where small children can reach them. Trim protruding branches at or below a child’s eye level.

Do not burn tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.

Also, to prevent accidental poisoning: Keep alcohol (including baking extracts) out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.

Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach. Artificial snow sprays also are harmful if inhaled.

Holly berries, mistletoe berries, poinsettias, amaryllis, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry all are potentially harmful if eaten.

To find out whether other decorative plants and products are hazardous to children, call the national Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Learn more about home safety by calling 360-786-8907, ext. 106, via e-mail at safekids@ccacwa. org or at www.usa.safekids.org.