It\u2019s hard to imagine the holiday season without family gatherings, good food, and festive decorations. However, it\u2019s important to keep safety in mind to prevent your holidays from turning into a complete nightmare.<\/p>\n
Accidents happen fast. Taking a closer look at how you decorate your home for the holidays can significantly reduce the risk of fire. A safe holiday is a happy one\u2014as long as you don\u2019t eat too much turkey, that is!\u00a0But that\u2019s a discussion for another day\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.<\/p>\n
Many people love putting up their Christmas tree before December has even begun. But this practice is a great way to ensure your tree dries out by Christmas\u00a0Eve, and a dry tree can catch fire in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n
For this reason, it\u2019s important to buy a tree that\u2019s in good condition. Pro tip: If the needles are falling off, the tree isn\u2019t fresh. Once you\u2019ve brought your tree home, make sure to water it regularly. It should also be placed at least a metre away from heat sources, including electric baseboards and other heating elements.<\/p>\n
We recommend using a timer to regulate when your tree lights turn on and off. This way, you won\u2019t have to worry about falling asleep or leaving the house having forgotten to turn them off!<\/p>\n
Catherine Roulin, a firefighter from the St-\u00c9tienne-de-Beauharnois fire department, has some advice to help you avoid electrical problems over the holidays:<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that LED lighting systems are more energy-efficient. If you opt for incandescent lights, make sure they work properly before using them. If some of your incandescent lights need to be changed, replace them with manufacturer bulbs.<\/p>\n
Or course, fires are already covered by your home insurance policy.<\/p>\n