Holiday Safety Tips

"The American Red Cross is synonymous with keeping families safe," said Debi Meeds, American Red Cross health and safety expert. " This should be a joyous time of year but statistics show it can also be a dangerous one. Nearly 500 deadly home fires happen each December as a result of Christmas trees catching fire. Many of these fires and deaths can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions," according to Meeds.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, four out of seven home fires occur during December, January and February, and about half of these fires are caused by using candles and overloading electrical circuits. As families turn to alternative heating sources out of necessity or to avoid the rising cost of oil and gas, there is an increased risk of accidental fires in the home.

Meeds says candle safety alone would help prevent thousands of injuries each year. "Taking precautions such as keeping candles away from Christmas trees, never leaving children unattended in a room with lit candles and always keeping candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children, could prevent thousands of injuries and numerous deaths," she said.

The American Red Cross recommends the following safety tips for a joyous holiday season:

 Keep Christmas trees fresh - Place your tree away from heat sources and exits; water it daily. Make sure your artificial tree is fire-retardant.

 Decorate only with flame-retardant or non-combustible materials -Avoid using candles during parties. Check ashtrays, upholstery and trash cans for smoldering cigarette butts after any holiday party.

 Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves - Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of the heating season. Burn only wood-never burn paper, including discarded gift wrap, or pine boughs. If you plan to hang stockings on your fireplace, do not use the fireplace for fires.

 Get your furry friends a special gift - Pet First Aid, developed by the Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States, is an important guide to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to the emergency needs of their pets. Contact your local American Red Cross to purchase a copy, or ask for Pet First Aid at your local bookstore.

 Enroll in a First Aid, CPR and AED Course - Although these tips can help prevent an emergency, it is also important to be prepared should an emergency situation arise. To enroll in a first aid, CPR or AED course, contact your local American Red Cross.

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.