March 28, 2024
Red Cross: ‘Tis the season to prevent holiday decoration fires

Most candle fires happen in residences during December 

Vermont Business enterprise Magazine This holiday break year, the American Crimson Cross Northern New England Area encourages all people to stick to simple methods to prevent household fires from getaway decorations. Most property fires involving candles materialize in December, when one in five residence decoration fires also occur.  

“As more of us mild candles to rejoice the holidays, we want to be certain all people stays safe from residence fires — the nation’s most repeated disaster,” explained John Montes, Regional Catastrophe Plan Officer for the Purple Cross Northern New England Region. “Help shield your relatives by applying battery-operated candles, tests your smoke alarms month to month and working towards your two-moment escape approach with absolutely everyone in your household.” 

Getaway DECORATING Safety Recommendations Follow these safety guidelines and visit redcross.org/fire for a lot more information and facts, including an escape system to exercise with your relatives. You can also obtain the free Purple Cross Crisis app by searching “American Crimson Cross” in app shops. 

  • If you have to use candles, hold them absent from everything that could burn off, and place them out of achieve from animals and little ones. Under no circumstances depart burning candles unattended.
  • Examine all holiday getaway light cords to make sure they are not frayed or damaged. Never string too several strands of lights alongside one another — no extra than three for every extension cord.
  • Make sure outside decorations are for out of doors use and fasten lights securely to your dwelling or trees. If utilizing hooks or nails outside, make positive they are insulated to stay clear of an electrocution or fire hazard.
  • If buying an synthetic tree, look for the hearth-resistant label. When putting it up, retain it absent from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of warmth. Under no circumstances use electrical lights on metallic trees.
  • If obtaining a stay tree, make guaranteed it’s contemporary and maintain it watered. To exam if the tree is clean, bend the needles up and down to make positive no needles fall off.
  • Do not light the fire if hanging stockings or other decorations on the mantel. 

IF YOU Want HELP If you can’t afford to pay for to obtain smoke alarms or are physically unable to set up one particular, the Pink Cross may perhaps be in a position to assist. Visit  redcross.org/EndHomeFiresNNE  or call 1-800-464-6692 (Choice 4) to timetable your totally free installation appointment. 

Household Hearth Marketing campaign Saves LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fireplace Marketing campaign with group associates has saved at minimum 1,414 lives by educating families about fire basic safety, serving to them develop escape ideas and installing more than 2.4 million free smoke alarms in higher-threat neighborhoods across the country. Visit redcross.org/homefires for extra information. 

About the American Pink Cross:

The American Crimson Cross shelters, feeds and presents consolation to victims of disasters supplies about 40{ae4c731f0fa9ef51314dbd8cd1b5a49e21f1d642b228e620476f3e076dd7c050} of the nation’s blood teaches abilities that help save lives distributes international humanitarian assist and supports veterans, army customers and their family members. The Crimson Cross is a nonprofit firm that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American community to produce its mission. For a lot more details, make sure you visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or stop by us on Twitter at @RedCross.

BURLINGTON, DEC. 6, 2022  American Crimson Cross Northern New England Region