For many people the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year; people are cheery, the drink is flowing, gifts are exchanged and the general Christmas spirit is upon us.
But this magical time can quickly turn tragic if proper care is not given to Christmas tree safety…yes, your Christmas tree!
Unfortunately more than 400 homes catch fire each year because of Christmas trees. A burning tree takes a matter of seconds to fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
There are a number of steps you can take to help prevent a Christmas tree fire:
- Firstly you should choose a fresh tree that still has a lot of moisture. You can check this by pulling at the needles as they won’t fall off if the tree is fresh. It should also be a nice green colour.
- Cut about an inch off the bottom of the trunk before setting up so that the cut is fresh. This will increase the trees ability to absorb water.
- Water the tree daily, keeping the stand full of water at all times.
- Don’t overload sockets, check the lights for faults and loose connections and always turn the tree lights off when you leave the house or go to bed.
Let’s hope we all have a safe and happy Christmas.