The winter holiday season is traditionally a festive time of year with lots of celebrations, family gatherings and visits from houseguests. However, incidents of home fires and electrical accidents also typically increase during the winter holiday season.

 

Statistics show that 30 percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur during the months of December, January, and February.

 

According to the United States Fire Administration, fires caused by cooking, heating, and open flame all increase during the winter holiday period and tend to be more severe than the average fire during the year.

 

Holiday decoration and Christmas tree fires are considerably more damaging, resulting in twice the injuries and five times the fatalities per fire as the average winter holiday home fire. Each year, around 260 fires begin with Christmas trees, resulting in 12 deaths, 24 injuries and $16.4 million in property damage. Another 150 home fires were caused by decorative and holiday lights, with candles starting 45 percent of home decoration fires.

 

About 5,800 individuals are injured from falls involving holiday decorations with more than half caused by falls from ladders or roofs while decorating outdoors. Also, 4,000 people a year suffer from injuries from extension cords, half involving fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from tripping over cords.

 

For holiday safety tips, go to the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org or Electrical Safety Foundation International at www.esfi.org.//

 

Here are some seasonal safety tips from the National Safety Council and Consumer Product Safety Commission:

 

• When buying a tree, check for freshness, green color with needles hard to pull from branches and needles that do not break when bent. The tree should not lose many needles when tapped on the ground. Water the tree regularly.
• Look for the “Fire Resistant” label on any artificial tree.
• Decorate the tree with your kids and pets in mind; move breakable ornaments toward the top.
• Select lights tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
• Always use the proper step ladder.
• Keep poisonous plants out of reach of children and pets; the national Poison Control Center is at (800) 222-1222.
• December is the peak time of year for candle fires. Put candles are on stable surfaces, never leave them unattended, do not burn near flammable materials and keep out of reach of children.
• Clean the chimney and fireplace at least once a year and don't burn Christmas debris in the fireplace.