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- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label
"Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the
tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will
resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A
fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from
branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do
not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with
resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should
not lose many needles.
- When setting up a tree at home, place it away from
fireplaces and fire/heat sources. Because heated rooms
dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of
traffic and do not block doorways.
- Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been
tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory,
which indicates conformance with safety standards.
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or
cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose
connections, and throw out damaged sets.
- Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per
single extension cord.
- Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree
can become charged with electricity from faulty lights,
and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
- Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure
they have been certified for outdoor use.
- Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or
other firm supports to protect the lights from wind
damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in
place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights
through hooks (available at hardware stores).
- Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the
house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
- For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor
electric lights and decorations into circuits protected
by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable
outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies
are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to
household circuits by a qualified electrician.
- Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to
trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of
plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are
hazardous if ingested by children.
- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other
evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place
candles where they will not be knocked down.
- In homes with small children, take special care to avoid
decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings
with small removable parts out of the reach of children
to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces,
and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may
tempt a child to eat them.
- Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while
decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow
container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation
while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
- Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames
when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals
that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and
vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash
fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn
intensely.
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