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With another holiday season fast approaching, many of us look forward to celebrations that incorporate family traditions and holiday parties. That translates into many hours decorating our homes and preparing festive meals. A little added caution can go a long way to ensure that your holidays remain safe and healthy. Keep in mind the following tips while planning your holiday season this year.
Safety tips for holiday decorating in the home
Tree safety
When buying a live tree, the most important consideration is that it is fresh. If possible, cut the tree down yourself. Many tree farms allow you to tag a tree ahead of time and have it cut down on the day you take it home. A tree that is fresh will not lose many of its needles when shaken. Don't be afraid to handle a tree before you purchase it. Give it the shake test, and do not buy it if the needles are dry and falling off. The trunk of a fresh tree is sticky with resin and should not feel dry to the touch.
If you are setting up your tree indoors, keep it away from fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, wall furnaces and heaters. Position your tree so that it is not blocking doorways, stairs or other exits. Be sure that the tree is stable and not at risk for falling over and injuring a small child or pet. Use rope or some type of heavy string to secure the tree if necessary. Assign someone the task of watering the tree daily. Live trees dry out very quickly, particularly in heated homes.
Before stringing the Christmas lights on the tree, check to be sure that they are in working order. Discard any lights that have frayed wires or broken sockets. Do not use more than three standard-size sets of lights per extension cord or you may overload electrical circuits.
Never use candles or open flames on a live tree. Be sure to turn off all tree lights when you will not be home or when you go to bed. The lights could short out and start a fire. Putting the lights on a timer to go off at bedtime can be helpful. Dispose of a live tree when the needles begin falling off in large quantities.
Candles, artificial lights and other decorations
Candles should never be left burning in a room that is unattended. They can easily melt, tip over and start a fire. Young children naturally are attracted to burning candles. Be sure that all candles are placed high enough so that they are out of reach of small children. Likewise, keep matches in areas that are not accessible to children.
When purchasing any type of holiday lights, buy only those bearing the UL Mark. It means engineers have tested samples for fire and shock hazards. Choose lights with the green holographic UL label for indoor use. A red UL Mark indicates that the lights are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Take down outdoor lighting when the holiday season is finished. It is not designed to withstand prolonged exposure to the outside elements.
The start of the holiday season is a good time to check your smoke detectors. Keep a working fire extinguisher in the home, and review how to use it with family members.
Fireplaces often are used during the holiday season. Before starting a fire, determine if your chimney needs cleaning. This depends on how often you use it. Remove all decorations and ornaments that may be adorning the mantle and hanging too close to a burning fire. Check to be certain that the flu is open before starting the fire. Never burn anything but wood in your fireplace. Wrappings and evergreen branches can burn very quickly, throwing off sparks and burning debris. Make sure your tree is nowhere near your fire and make sure your fireplace opening is completely covered by a screen.
Beware of decorations that could be toxic. Plants like mistletoe and holly berries may be poisonous if more than a few are ingested. Poinsettias can cause severe stomachaches. Old tinsel may contain lead. Get rid of it if you are not certain of its composition.
Food safety tips for holiday entertaining
Festive times almost surely include sharing meals with others. Buffets are popular during the holiday season. To avoid transmission of foodborne illnesses, keep the following tips in mind when planning your holiday get together.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling food. If you are preparing foods ahead of time, cook them thoroughly to safe temperatures.
- Foods should not sit at room temperatures for more than two hours. When entertaining for longer periods of time, use smaller containers and serving trays. Clean and refill them every few hours during a party. Do not add fresh food to a container that has been sitting out for long periods and probably has had many hands touching it.
- Read food labels carefully, follow "keep refrigerated" label directions and pay careful attention to "sell by" and "use by" dates.
- Hot foods should remain at 140 degrees F or warmer. Use crock-pots, chafing dishes and warming trays as needed.
- Cold foods should remain at 40 degrees F or colder. Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice.
When the party is over, discard foods that have been sitting out for more than two hours. When in doubt, "throw it out." Otherwise, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for four days. In the freezer, leftovers can be stored for several months.
Children and holiday parties
When taking small children to holiday parties, look for foods that may be a choking hazard. Food platters often are displayed on coffee tables and other areas of the home that are easily accessible to youngsters. Children have been known to choke on small round foods such as candy, peanuts, carrots, grapes and popcorn.
Alcohol poisoning also can happen quickly to a child who ingests only a small amount. Keep alcoholic drinks away from children. Always clean up half-empty glasses after a party before going to bed.
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External Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
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U.S. Department of Agriculture - Food Safety and Inspection Service Center for Nutrition
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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