DeKalb Fire Department wants you to be safe and happy during this holiday season. We all look forward to the warm feelings, sights, and wonderful smells of the holidays. Warmth from the fireplace, beautifully decorated houses with lights and garland, followed by the aroma of the turkey or other holiday favorites roasting in the oven. It just doesn’t get better than this. Until, that is, the roasted turkey becomes extremely well done. Here are a few holiday and cold weather safety tips for you to consider as you prepare for the upcoming cold months.
- NEVER use the oven as a heating device. Bake the cookies or fruit cake and turn the oven off.
- Never leave cooking of any kind unattended.
- If you use candles, make sure to use them in a safe manner in a fireproof container and away from children, curtains and pets.
- Follow instructions included with holiday lighting. Use protected power strips in place of extension cords.
- Follow manufacture instruction regarding multiple strings of lights.
- Do not use candles in or on tree decorations.
- Keep real tree watered.
- Use and maintain supplemental heating devices in accordance with manufacture recommendations.
- Do not leave heating devices unattended or turned on while you are sleeping.
- Provide all heating devices with at least 3 feet of clear space, away from beds, drapes, furniture or other combustibles.
- Clean and maintain chimneys, fireplaces and furnaces regularly. Most fires in wood stoves, fireplaces and chimneys because of lack of regular cleaning.
- Remove ashes from the wood stove or fireplace to a noncombustible bucket, even if the fire has been out “a long time”. Take the ashes out of the house.
- Check the smoke detector(s) for proper operation. Change the batteries twice a year.
- Check the Carbon monoxide detector(s) and change batteries also twice a year.
These are just a few of the things you can do in and around your home to be a little more safe. Also, have a family escape plan and practice it.