Take time to make this a safe and fun festive season by following these "12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety" tips!
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Day 1 - Consider using LED lights and hang with nail-free clips for your outdoor-rated lights. Cut your loss and toss damaged strings – an electrical fire is a sure bet for a lousy holiday.
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Day 2 - Fires caused by holiday decorations and open flames from candles are all too common this season. Battery-powered candles are a great alternative but if you must light up, keep candles away from pets and children, put the candle in a sturdy container and always blow out when you leave the room.
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Day 3 - Fatal fires are at their highest rate during the holidays. When seconds matter, a working smoke alarm is the gift of time in the event of a fire. An alarm on every storey, tested monthly, and batteries replaced annually, is probably the best gift you can give your family this season.
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Day 4 - Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that can cause flu-like symptoms. A CO alarm alerts you to a potential CO emergency with four beeps and is the best way to protect your family from The Silent Killer.
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Day 5 - Falling needles are your tree's way of telling you it's drying out and is a fire waiting to happen. Avoid being a statistic and water your tree daily. Be weary of heat sources near the tree including furnace vents and non-LED lights.
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Day 6 - Extension cords are a temporary solution and if more outlets are required, have them installed by a licensed electrician. Fire and electric shock are not on anyone's list this season - avoid overloading a circuit and never run extension cords under a rug.
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Day 7 - Holiday baking with children this holiday season? Make sure to keep an eye on those little bakers and remember to never leave the oven unattended. Safety first, cookies second!
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Day 8 - Give your family the gift of peace of mind with a home fire escape plan and have two ways out of a burning home to ensure your loved ones are prepared for the worst so you can focus on the best: festive cheer!
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Day 9 - Fires caused by cooking mostly happen when the stove is left unattended, so be mindful when cooking and never leave the kitchen while using a stove.
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Day 10 - Staying warm this Winter Solstice means practicing fire safety. Space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces are all great ideas until an accident happens. Keep at least one metre (3 feet) distance between your heat source and combustibles, like paper and fabrics.
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Day 11 - Careless smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires. Encourage smokers to smoke outside and use large, deep ashtrays that can’t be knocked over. Make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished.
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Day 12 - Receiving a new lithium-ion toy during the festive period can be exciting but it can also add potential risk to your home. Always monitor the toy or device when it is charging; read the manufacturer's instructions for safe charging & do not exceed the recommended charging time.
Learn more about fire prevention and safety and preparing for emergencies.