Trim the Tree Safely

Home Safety Council Offers Tips on How to Care for Your Christmas Trees

Trimming the tree is a traditional holiday pastime; however, Christmas trees pose a serious danger to households if not properly cared for. The Home Safety Council offers some tips when selecting and caring for your Christmas tree this holiday season:

• When purchasing live, cut trees or greens, carefully inspect the needles. If they're brown or break easily, the greenery isn't fresh and poses a greater fire risk. Test for freshness by bending a few needles in half. If they snap in two, the tree is dry - look for one on which the needles spring back to their original shape.
• When you take your tree home, put it in a sturdy, non-tip stand filled with water.
• Keep live trees supplied with water at all times; dehydrated Christmas trees can catch fire more easily.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any flame or heat source
• Never decorate trees with candles.
• Try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
• Inspect electrical lights and extension cords for wear and tear and replace any cords that are beginning to fray or have broken sockets; pay special attention to outdoor lights that have been exposed to winter weather conditions. To reduce fire hazards and extend the life of outdoor decorative lights, bring them inside after the holidays.
• Avoid cluttering outlets - string no more than three strands of lights together and make sure all lights bear the mark of an independent organization such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• When decorating indoors, use only those lights listed for indoor use. Unplug all lights - inside and out -- before going to bed or leaving home.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are flammable and should not be left inside the home or garage, or placed against the house.
• Make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Don't forget to install, test and maintain these devices in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan for your household so overnight guests are familiar with your procedures.