The holiday season is here and with it comes decorations and cold weather! This season, take a few minutes to review these fire safety tips so you and your loved ones can stay safe while staying warm and celebrating the holidays.
1. Make sure your smoke detectors are working
The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) recommends having a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement. Must be 10 year old smoke detectors, with sealed lithium ion batteries.
Test each alarm in your house.
Check the date of your alarms. If they are more than 10 years old, they need to be replaced.
If your smoke alarms use 9-volt batteries, replace them with smoke alarms that use 10-year sealed lithium-ion batteries.
If you don’t have smoke detectors, you can order them for free through 311 or buy them at most hardware stores.
two. Follow proper Christmas tree care
Did you know that properly choosing, caring for, and disposing of your Christmas tree can help prevent home fires? In Philadelphia, natural cut Christmas trees are only allowed in single and two-family homes.
Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
When choosing a tree, bend some of the needles. If they break, the tree is too dry.
After picking up your tree, cut an extra inch or two off the trunk. The fresh cut will help the tree absorb water.
Set the tree firmly in its stand, with plenty of room for the water.
Check the water level daily and water the tree if necessary.
Never leave a lit tree unattended.
Do not allow the tree to block any exits or stairs.
Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, heaters, candles, or vents.
3. Recycle or dispose of your tree after the holidays or if it dries out
Dry trees are a fire hazard. They should not be in your house or garage, nor lean against your house. Your tree is too dry if it is losing needles, the needles are turning brown, or the branches are beginning to break.
When your tree is dry, you should recycle or dispose of the tree immediately.
recycle it
The Philadelphia Street Department’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program is held for two weeks in January of each year. While the program is running, you can take your Christmas tree to one of several designated locations or to a sanitation convenience center.
Many other local businesses and organizations will also recycle your Christmas tree, sometimes for a fee. Check with your local neighborhood group or composting company to see if they will be holding any tree recycling events.
discard it
Philadelphians can ditch their live Christmas trees on the sidewalk. The City will take the trees placed along the curb as trash instead of composting them.
4. Safely set up your Christmas decorations
Christmas lights help make this season magical, but they can pose a serious fire hazard if left unattended or improperly installed.
Do not overload electrical outlets with power strips or extension cords. Make sure that the electrical wires of the lights are not frayed or knotted. Check that the lights are for indoor use if you are going to hang them inside. Replace any string lights that may have frayed or broken wires, or loose bulb connections. Do not string more than three string lights together. You can read the manufacturer’s instructions for the maximum number of light strands you can safely connect. Keep candles 12 inches away from anything that could burn and never leave them unattended while burning. Turn off decorations before bed, and be sure to blow out all candles. Use battery-operated flameless candles instead of traditional wax candles. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
5. Heat your home safely
Heat sources are the second leading cause of home fires. It is important that you heat your home safely to avoid an emergency.
Keep anything that can catch fire at least 3 feet away from a heat source.
Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a heater) into an outlet at a time.
Never connect a space heater to an extension cord or power strip.
Never use an oven to heat your home.
Source: news.google.com