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Home › Articles › Holiday: Winter › Seasonal Safety

Seasonal Safety

50 Holiday Home Safety Tips

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  • In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
  • Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled.
  • Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child could eat them!
  • Some holiday plants are poisonous. Remove plants like holly and mistletoe that pose a hazard when ingested.

    •  

    Artificial Snow

     

    • Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels, and follow directions carefully.

     

    The Fireplace

     

    • Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers and other decorations from the fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
    • Before closing the flue, be sure that the fire is out completely.
    • Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
    • Make sure to have at least one carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm in your home, and test them to ensure that they're working properly.
    • Have your chimney inspected at least once a year and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not properly cleaned.
    • Always use a fire screen and only burn material appropriate for fireplaces. Avoid burning trash or paper, which can float up the chimney and onto the roof or yard.
    • Remove ashes in a metal container. Ashes should be removed from the home because they may rekindle.
    • Develop and practice a fire escape plan for your household so overnight guests are familiar with your procedures.

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