Holiday Decoration Safety Tips
Trees
“Snow”
Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you
Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled.
buy one, look for a statement specifying this
To avoid injury, read container labels; follow
protection.
directions carefully.
A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a
fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness,
Lights
remember:
• A fresh tree is green.
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been
• Fresh needles are hard to pull from
tested for safety. Identify these by the label from
branches.
an independent testing laboratory.
• When bent between your fingers, fresh
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken
Holiday
needles do not break.
or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose
connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them
• The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with
before using.
resin.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house,
• When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the
walls or other firm support to protect from wind
ground, a shower of falling needles shows
damage.
that tree is too dry.
Decoration
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights
Place tree away from fireplaces, radiators and
per single extension cord.
other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out
rapidly, creating fire hazards.
Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations
when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights
Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose
could short and start a fire.
fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away
Safety
branches as necessary to set tree trunk in the base
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.
of a sturdy, water-holding stand with wide spread
The tree can become charged with electricity from
feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the
faulty lights, and any person touching a branch
tree is indoors.
could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use
Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not
colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never
block doorways. Use thin guy-wires to secure
fastened onto it!
Tips
a large tree to walls or ceiling. These wires are
Keep “bubbling” lights away from children.
almost invisible.
These lights with their bright colors and bubbling
movement can tempt curious children to break
candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt
to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous
chemical.
A publication of the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission
CPSC-611
Candles
Use care with “fire salts” which produce colored
General Rules for
flames when thrown on wood fires. They
Holiday Safety
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other
contain heavy metals which can cause intense
evergreens.
gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten.
Keep away from children.
• Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of
Always use non-flammable holders.
the reach of children.
Keep candles away from other decorations and
Paper
• Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.
wrapping paper.
• Make an emergency plan to use if a fire
Place candles where they cannot be knocked
When making paper decorations, look for
breaks out anywhere in the home. See that
down or blown over.
materials labeled non-combustible or flame-
each family member knows what to do.
resistant.
PRACTICE THE PLAN!
Trimmings
Never place trimming near open flames
• Avoid wearing loose flowing clothes—
or electrical connections.
particularly long, open sleeves—near open
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant
Remove all wrapping papers
flames - such as those of a fireplace, stove, or
materials.
from tree and fireplace areas
candlelit table.
Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass
immediately after presents are
• Never burn candles near evergreens.
“angel hair” to avoid irritation to eyes and skin.
opened.
Burning evergreens in the fireplace can
also be hazardous. When dry, greens
Choose tinsel or artificial icicles or plastic or non-
Do not burn papers in
burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of
leaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if
the fireplace. A flash fire
control, and send sparks flying into a
ingested by children.
may result as wrappings
ignite suddenly and
room, or up the chimney to ignite
In homes with small children, take special care to:
burn intensely.
creosote deposits.
• Avoid decorations that are sharp or
• Plan for safety. Remember, there
breakable.
is no substitute for common
sense. Look for and eliminate
• Keep trimmings with small removable parts
potential danger spots
out of the reach of children. Pieces could be
near candles, fireplaces,
swallowed or inhaled.
trees, and/or electrical
• Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or
connections.
food. A child could eat them!
Fires
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens,
boughs, papers, and other decorations from
fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.
Keep a screen before the fireplace all the time a
fire is burning.
