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With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's easy to forget to take proper safety precautions that will protect your home against accidents.
In order to serve as reminders to area residents, here are some guidelines to make your holidays celebrations safer, courtesy of your Calhoun County American Red Cross:
⢠When hanging your stockings, don't follow instructions from T'was The Night Before Christmas. Although the stockings should be hung with care, do not hang them by the chimney or near any source of heat. Hang them in a location where there is no possibility that they could catch fire.
⢠If you have a fireplace or wood stove, ensure that the chimney has been cleaned. A buildup of creosote in the chimney poses a serious fire hazard. If you are unsure of how to clean the chimney properly, contact someone who can help.
⢠If you have a real holiday tree, make sure to water it regularly to prevent drying out. A dry tree is more susceptible to fire. Keep lit candles away from your tree at all times. Use strand lights to decorate and look at the box or on the lights for a label confirming that they are UL (underwriters laboratories) inspected. To prevent electrical fires, never overload a circuit. When away from home, unplug Christmas lights to reduce the likelihood of fire.
⢠Protect your water lines against freezing temperatures. Wrap lines with electrical tape or make sure they are otherwise properly insulated. Spending a little extra time and money to exercise these added precautions will help to prevent the likelihood of costly water damage to floors, carpet and furnishings from broken water lines.
Just by taking these simple precautions, you can take steps to prevent damage to your home as well as injuries to yourself or your loved ones.
If you have any questions or concerns about safety, or would like to know more about preventing accidents in your home or office, we invite you to visit AmeriCorps members Michelle Jones and Megan Healy-Bleichner on Mondays or Tuesdays at the American Red Cross office in the Calhoun County Courthouse, or call 304-588-0717.
We both want to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.
See additional tips RED CROSS OFFERS HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS">
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