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Officials Offer Tips For Holiday Safety This Year
OCEAN COUNTY - Those twinkling lights of red and green may look nice, but improperly used they can pose a serious safety hazard.
The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs recently offered free tips on how to make the holiday season safe and enjoyable.
"Putting safety first means everyone can enjoy this joyous time of year," Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said. "Take a few extra moments to carefully inspect that Christmas tree. Read the directions for decorative lights before hanging them. Make safety a holiday tradition."
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 10,800 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees.
In addition, Christmas trees are involved in about 400 fires annually, resulting in 20 deaths, 70 injuries and $15 million in property damage, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Vicari, liaison to the Department of Consumer Affairs, offered the following tips to help keep the holidays safe:
•When buying a live Christmas tree, make sure the needles are fresh and green. The needles should bend and not snap between your fingers.
•Place a live tree in a cool spot away from heater vents, the fireplace and other heat sources. Water the tree regularly and dispose of it or recycle it properly after the season.
•When purchasing an artificial tree, look for a "fire resistant" label. While most artificial trees can burn, fire resistant trees will resist burning and extinguish quickly.
•Use only indoor or outdoor lights that have been properly tested for safety by a recognized laboratory. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
•Checks all lights for burned out, missing or damaged bulbs. Replace bulbs with the same wattage bulbs only. Use no more than three sets of lights per extension cord.
•Make sure outdoor lights have been certified for outdoor use. Hang lights with insulated staples or run them through hooks. Never use nails or tacks.
•Turn off the lights when leaving the house or going to bed.
•Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Do not hang sharp ornaments near the reach of small children. Avoid hanging ornaments that resemble candy canes or food near young children, as they may be tempted to eat them.
•When using candles, always place them in a safety holder away from trees and other flammable materials. Make sure all candles are out before leaving your home or going to sleep.
Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety, recommends all residents take a few moments to protect their families by checking that household smoke detectors are working throughout the holiday season.
"It takes only a few seconds to check the
batteries in a smoke detector," Kelly said. "Those few seconds can help guarantee every
family enjoys a safe and happy holiday season."
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