Special Holiday Safety Tips

Americans over the age of 65 have a fire death rate nearly twice the national average. For those over 75, this jumps to three times the national average.

As the holidays approach, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging people to look for and eliminate potential danger spots that could lead to fires or injuries.

Each year, about 1,300 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday lights and trimmings. This number grows when the weather is factored in. Holiday trees are involved in about 500 fires annually, resulting in an average of $20 million in property loss and damage each year.

Here are some steps that seniors and their families can take to remain safe in their home from fire...

Trees

• 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 bounced on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and heaters. 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.

Decorations

• 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.
• Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” It can irritate your eyes and skin. A common substitute is non-flammable cotton. Both angel hair and cotton snow are flame retardant when used alone. However, if artificial snow is sprayed onto them , the dried combination will burn rapidly. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow directions carefully. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them.
• Artificial snows are toxic if ingested by children.
• Take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.

Lights

• Use only approved cords and lights. If your lights say outdoors on them, use them OUTDOORS only. Do not use outdoor lights inside your home or on your tree as this can pose a severe fire hazard.
• No more than 3 strings of lights should be used on one extension cord.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
• 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.
• 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.

Candles

• Nothing sets a holiday mood more than a few well placed candles lit to reflect the warmth of your holiday decorations. However, candles pose certain fire hazards. Never place lit candles anywhere near curtains or drapes.
• Always place candles in non-tip candleholders before you lights them.
• Do not use real candles that have been lit near any type of tree, artificial or real.
• Extinguish all candles when you leave the room. Unattended candles start many fires each year.

Fireplace

• Ensure adequate ventilation in any room with a fire burning in the fireplace.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms where you have an active fireplace.
• The glass screens that cover a fireplace can become real scorchers. Everyone should remember that these things can become quite hot and produce very ugly burns.
• Do not try to burn evergreens or wreaths in the fireplace or in a wood stove to dispose of them. They are likely to flare out of control and send flames and smoke into the room.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
• 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.

Plants

• Some holiday plants are just plain poison to children or pets. Plants to watch out for include: mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis.
• While poinsettias are NOT toxic to humans, these plants are irritants and can be poisonous to your pets.

Gifts

• Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle.
• For persons with arthritis, make sure the gift does not require assembly and can be easily opened and closed.
• Choose books with large type for anyone with vision impairment.

Food and Cooking

• The holidays often mean preparing meals for family and friends. Wash hands utensils, sink, and anything else that has come in contact with raw poultry.
• Keep in mind that stuffed birds require extra cooking time. For questions concerning holiday turkey preparation and cooking, call the USDA Meat and Poultry hotline at 1 (800) 535-4555.
• Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in covered shallow containers (less than two inches deep) within two hours after cooking. Date the leftover for future use.
• Don't leave the kitchen while you are cooking. If you have to leave the kitchen to answer the doorbell or talk on the phone, set a timer or take a spoon to remind yourself that you are cooking.

Alcohol, Parties and Driving

• Being a smart party host or guest should include being sensible about alcoholic drinks. More than half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related. Ude designated drivers, people who do not drink, to drive you or other guests home after a holiday party.

Space Heaters

• Keep at least three feet between portable heaters and anything that can burn, including furniture, papers, blankets, pets and you.
• Never leave a space heater turned on when you are not at home.

Smoking

• If you must smoke indoors, use large deep ashtrays.
• Never smoke while drowsy or in bed. It is very dangerous to fall asleep with a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe in your hands.

Smoke Alarms

• Approximately 75% of the 1,300 senior citizens who die nation-wide in fires each year do not have working smoke alarms in their homes. Smoke alarms are designed to wake you up if a fire starts in your home at night. It is a dangerous risk to assume the smell of the smoke or the heat of the fire will wake you up. Just a few breaths of the smoke will endanger your life and by the time the heat wakes you up, your means of escape may be gone.
• Check your smoke alarms at least twice a year, replacing the batteries for new ones each time. It is better to spend a few dollars on new batteries than spend thousands of dollars on hospital bills or funeral costs.

Stress

• The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year. You can't avoid stress completely, but you can give yourself some relief.
• Allow enough time to shop rather than hurry through stores and parking lots.
• Only plan to do a reasonable number of errands.
• When shopping, make several trips out to the car to drop off packages rather than trying to carry too many items.
• Take time out for yourself. Relax, read, or enjoy your favorite hobby at your own pace.

The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) private, not-for-profit charitable organization funded under the Older Americans Act and the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Page was last updated on 6/25/2004.
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