INDEPTH: HOLIDAYS
Holiday safety tips:
Fire safety
CBC News Online | December 9, 2005
Volunteer firefighters from the Pleasant Valley Fire Department carry presents out of a house that caught fire Dec. 24, 1998, in Kingmont, W.Va. (AP Photo/The Times West Virginian, Danny R. Snyder)
|
Yes, it's that time of year again. A time when many Canadians spruce up the home, celebrate with friends and colleagues – and greatly increase the odds that they will be the victim of some kind of accident.
The number of home accidents – especially fires – increases significantly during December, according to Fire Prevention Canada.
Overall, the number of house fires in Canada has been declining since 1980. However, the number of fires started by candles has been increasing since 1990 as the popularity of candles grew rapidly.
In the early 1980s, candles were blamed for 1.1 per cent of home fires. By 2001, that rate had soared to 4.7 per cent.
Between 1998 and 2002, candles ranked as the fifth-most-common cause of house fires, behind cooking equipment, heating equipment, electrical distribution equipment and smokers' articles, according to statistics from the Ontario Fire Marshal's office.
With that in mind, here are some tips on lessening the chances of fire being part of your holiday season.
Candles
- Candle fires are more likely to start in the bedroom.
- When using candles, keep them a safe distance from combustibles like clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees or decorations.
- Place candles on stable furniture in sturdy holders that won't tip over and that are big enough to collect dripping wax.
- Don't place lit candles in windows, where they may ignite blinds or curtains.
- Place candles only in areas where they won't be knocked over by children or pets.
- Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Extinguish votive and filled candles before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
- Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
- Never leave candles lit prior to going to bed or leaving the house.
Fireplaces
- Have your chimney checked at least once a year – a sooty St. Nick may affect your Christmas haul. Worse still, a dirty fireplace can cause chimney fires.
- Place a tight screen on the fireplace. Ensure it completely covers the fireplace opening.
- Remove all decorations from the area before starting a fire. Do not burn wrapping paper, garbage or evergreen boughs.
- Don't overload the fireplace with too many logs. It's a fine line between chestnuts roasting on an open fire and racing out the door to escape leaping flames.
- When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace, preferably on a grate.
- Never leave your fire unattended. Be sure the fire is extinguished before you go to bed. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- Keep wood stacked, covered, and out-of-doors, away from the house and off the ground.
Smoke detectors
- It's December. Of course you changed your smoke detector battery when you set your clock back in October. And you'll remember to do it again in April when you move your clock an hour ahead.
- If you need to replace your smoke detector – they don't last forever! – look for the ULC label. It tells you the product meets Canadian standards. Read the manufacturer's instructions so you know how to install, maintain and test it.
- Do not use rechargeable batteries. These batteries do not hold their charge for extended periods of time.
Outdoor lights
- Use only outdoor lights outside your house. Never use indoor extension cords.
- Examine light strings for any wear and tear. Discard damaged ones.
- Fasten bulbs securely and point sockets down to avoid moisture buildup.
- Connect no more than three strings together.
In case of emergency
- Always have emergency numbers near the phone.
- Make sure everyone in your home and the babysitter know what to do in case of a fire. Plan two ways out of every room. Have a prearranged meeting place outside the house in case of emergency. Practise your fire escape plan regularly.
- In the event of a fire, once you and your family are out, stay out. Call the fire department when you're safely out the door. Don't go back in until the fire department says it is safe.
^TOP
|
|
 |
 MENU |
|
|
| QUICK FACTS: |
Canadian men spend an average of $216 on gifts for their spouse
Canadian women spend about $158 on their spouse
Parents buy $187 worth of gifts for each of their children
Each Canadian spends an average of $358 on holiday food
Total cost of holiday gift-giving, entertaining, and eating for each Canadian
adult is $1,300
*VISA survey
|
|
| EXTERNAL LINKS: |
|
|
| MORE: |
|
|
|
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. Links will open in new window.
