Author: Mike Causey, Insurance Commissioner
In a few days, families and friends will be coming together to celebrate Christmas. There’ll be festive dinners and bright decorations. Christmas stories will be told. Gifts will be exchanged.
It’s important, as we travel long distances to visit family and friends or make a quick run to purchase a final stocking stuffer, to practice safety at home and on the road.
Many of the holiday decorations we use, including candles and lighting, increase the fire risk. With a little planning and care, we can make sure we avoid potentially dangerous accidents and make the holidays safe.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. Two out of every five decoration fires happen because the decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid a fire at your house:
- Place candles out of reach of children and where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
- Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children in a locked cabinet.
- Use flameless candles near flammable objects.
- Do not burn Christmas trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace.
- Always use a screen on the fireplace when a fire is burning.
- Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when asleep.
- Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year.
- Do not plug in too many lights into a single electrical outlet, this can cause an overload. It’s important to keep wires away from heat sources such as space heaters and fireplaces.
We also want to be safe when we’re on the road traveling to our holiday destinations. Most traffic accidents occur between the afternoon of Christmas Eve and the evening of Christmas Day, according to the American Safety Council. Remember the following safety tips to keep your family safe on the roads this holiday season:
- Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on an ice or snow-covered roadway.
- Increase your following distance so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.
- Always wear your seat belt and ensure that everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up.
- Know whether your vehicle has an anti-lock brake system. Anti-lock brake systems prevent your wheels from locking up during braking. If you have anti-lock brakes, apply firm, continuous pressure to the brake pedal. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, you may need to pump the brakes if your wheels start to lock up.
This is a wonderful time of year. Let’s keep it safe.
Merry Christmas!