subject: Safety Tips For Your Christmas Tree [print this page] When you kids start asking to place their seasonal Santa phone calls, you know its time to start thinking about putting up the Christmas tree. Santa calls are a great way to get your family into the holiday spirit. While there are many different types of Christmas trees to choose from, more important is how to keep your home safe from fire hazards that stem from improper placement and care of Christmas trees in the home. It seems like every year the evening news has a report about some poor family that has lost everything due to fires caused by the Christmas tree. This article includes some basic steps that you can take to avoid fire hazards. There are many other resources and information on the World Wide Web. You can also check with your local government offices on safety in the home.
Proper placement of your Christmas tree is an important step in its care and the safety of your family. If you have a fireplace, be sure to position your tree well away from it, preferable on an opposite wall and as far from the heat as possible. This will help prevent the tree from drying out prematurely and becoming brittle and more susceptible to fire. The heat from the fireplace will draw the moisture from your real tree more quickly than it can drink. Put your Christmas tree in a stand that is the right size for it and make sure it will bear the trees weight should it accidentally lean. You will also need to ensure that the water well is suitable for the size of the tree. Your Christmas tree trunk should be at least 2 inches deep in the stand's well for every foot of height.
When decorating your Christmas tree, do so with lights that are of approved UL ratings and have the tag still attached. If you are using the same set of lights you have used in previous years, stretch the strand out and use your fingers and eyesight to check for wear and breaks in the cord. Should you find any eroded or crimped cords, replace them with new lights. Never allow the lights to rest directly on the tree or needles and avoid densely needled areas. A good idea is to use the new safety lights that are on the market. While these cost a little more, it is well worth it to protect your home and more importantly, your family. Some lights come with reflectors that extend the bulbs from the branches while they throw the illumination outwards.
It is very important to keep your tree watered at all times. Keeping a constant supply of water on hand for the tree will not hurt it and will extend the life of the tree. A well-watered tree will not shed its needles as quickly or as abundantly. You can fill 2-liter soda bottles with water and hide them behind the tree to make this task easier. Purchase a new bottle of tree solution every other year to add to the trees water and help prolong the usability of the tree. Before you bring your new tree into the house, it is a good idea to shake it and dislodge any loose needles or broken branches as these will be the first part of the tree to dry out.
Many people do not realize the importance of preventative safety measures when putting up a Christmas tree. The majority of seasonal related emergency room visits at Christmas time are from eye injuries from the needles of the tree. A good pair of safety goggles will help to keep your eyes safe so that you can appreciate your family's beautiful and safe Christmas tree this year.
