For Immediate Release
December 5, 2002
Release #03-049
CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1219
CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Urges Consumers to Decorate Safely for the Holidays
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds
consumers that the holiday season should be merry and bright, not dangerous.
Avoiding hazards such as dried out Christmas trees, unsafe lights and
unattended burning candles could prevent thousands of injuries.
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries,
such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and
Christmas trees. In addition, there are 11,600 candle-related fires each
year, resulting in 150 deaths, 1200 injuries and $173 million in property
loss annually. Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually,
resulting in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of more than $10 million
in property loss and damage.
"Sometimes people are having such a nice time during the holidays that they
forget to extinguish candles," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "Always put
out lit candles before leaving a room or going to bed. Always keep burning
candles within sight. Also, make sure your holiday lights bear the mark of a
recognized testing lab to show they meet safety standards."
CPSC monitors holiday lights and decorations at stores nationwide. Since
2001, the Commission has prevented the import of 116,500 units of holiday
lights that did not meet safety standards.
CPSC suggests following these tips to make your holiday a safe one:
Trees:
* When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does
indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
* When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green,
needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between
your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when
tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
* When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and
radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep
the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do
not block doorways.
Lights:
* Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a
recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
* Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets,
frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
* Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension
cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
* Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged
with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be
electrocuted.
* Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been
certified for outdoor use.
* Stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles into older
homes.
* Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm
supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples
to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights
through hooks (available at hardware stores).
* Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The
lights could short out and start a fire.
* Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on
lights - they could unravel and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
* Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits
protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor
GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be
installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations:
* Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.
Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded
materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
* Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use
non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked
down.
* In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that
are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the
reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces,
and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to
eat them.
* Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun
glass "angel hair."
* Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while
decorating with artificial snow sprays.
Fireplaces:
* Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on
wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense
gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from
children.
* Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as
wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.