Safe decorating tips to ensure happy holidays

Holiday decorations, especially candles and electrical lighting, can be fire hazards, and the Safe Kids Kansas organization reminds parents and caregivers to take a few precautions when decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other winter festivities.

"Never, never leave burning candles unattended," Safe Kids Kansas Coordinator Jan Stegelman said. "Don't put candles on a tree, natural wreath, or near curtains or drapes. Keep matches and lighters locked out of reach."

In 2002, candles started 18,000 home fires in the United States, with twice as many home fires occurring in December as in any other month, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

"Decorative lighting should be labeled with the UL seal of approval from Underwriters Laboratories," Stegelman said. "If it's not labeled for outdoor use, don't use it outdoors."

Safe Kids Kansas recommends the following precautions for the decoration of trees:

* Never leave a lit Christmas tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.

* Natural Christmas trees always involved some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree near a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent. LED lights burn cooler than incandescent lights and pose a lower risk of fire.

* Decorate with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or that look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Trim protruding branches at or below a child's eye level, and keep lights out of reach.

* Do not burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.

Safe Kids Kansas also offers the following tips to prevent accidental poisoning:

* Keep alcohol (including baking extracts) out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended. Don't forget to store all medications, including those for children, out of reach.

* Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach. Artificial snow sprays are also harmful if inhaled.

* Holly berries, mistletoe berries, poinsettias, amaryllis, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry are all potentially harmful if eaten. If a child eats any part of a non-food plant, call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.

For more information about home safety, visit the fire prevention and safety pages online at www.usa.safekids.org.