The holidays are upon us, and between gift buying, decorating and party planning, fire safety can get pushed to the wayside. Many house fires happen during the holiday season, so taking the appropriate measures of prevention is SO important!
Here are 5 things to do to keep your apartment safe this season:
Check Your Extension Cords And Buy New If Needed
Extension cords are something we rarely think to check, but they can degrade over time and do need to be replaced and updated eventually. If you’re still using your parent’s old extension cord that you snuck into your moving box when you left home, you may want to consider tossing it. When using an extension cord, check it for damage first, and make sure there are no kinks or loops. Don’t run it underneath area rugs, and don’t connect more than one extension cord together. Also be sure to not overload your electrical plugs.
Keep Your Tree Watered
If you’re able to have a real Christmas tree in your apartment, make sure to keep it watered regularly. The earlier you purchase, the sooner it will dry out, so buy yours as close to Christmas as possible. If you have an artificial tree, check to make sure it’s flame resistant.
Holiday Lights Safety
Holiday lights can bring a festive vibe to your apartment, but it’s important to use them safely. Before stringing lights up on your balcony, make sure they’re rated for outdoor use. Indoor lights used outdoors in the elements can become a fire and electrical shock risk. LED lights tend to be cooler to the touch than other lights and are a good choice for your trees, wreaths, garland, etc.
Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Make sure to regularly test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon Monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless, and because it’s a product of fuel burning appliances, stoves, fireplaces, etc., it’s especially important to be aware of the dangers during the winter months. Also, make sure to replace any outdated fire extinguishers, or if you don’t have one, buy one to keep in the kitchen. You may also want to keep a fire blanket handy this season. It can be used to smother small kitchen or other fires.
Don’t Leave Burning Candles Unattended
Candles can play an important part in many holiday celebrations, and will leave your apartment dancing with light and magic. Just don’t get so caught up in the festivities that you forget to blow them out! Also make sure to keep lit candles away from drapes, the tree, and other holiday decor.
Have a fun and safe holiday season!
