O Christmas Tree
Christmas will be here before you know it. This year, you've decided to take up a tradition your family practiced when you were kid and buy a real tree. No more lugging the artificial tree out of the attic and struggling to put it together. Of course, a real tree will be messier, but you're prepared to deal with that. How prepared are you, though, to deal with the hazards involved in having a real tree?
Real Christmas trees in general pose more hazards than artificial ones simply because they are alive and can catch on fire easily. Experts advise individuals getting a real tree to choose one carefully and find one that doesn't lose green needles when tapped upon the ground. Once you have found the perfect tree, follow these safety tips:
o Remove an inch from the trunk to ensure the tree absorbs water.
o Use a tree stand that holds at least a gallon of water and make sure it is clean. A cupful of bleach with a cupful of water makes a great cleaning agent.
o Mix a commercial preservative with the water for the tree and check the water level every day. A six-foot tree will usually require a gallon of water every other day.
o Secure the tree with wire to prevent it from falling over.
o Place the tree in an area away from heat sources.
o Do not use candles on the tree. Use UL-listed miniature lights instead. They are safer and have cool-burning bulbs.
o Don't link more than three strands of lights together.
o Turn off the lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
Follow these tips and you're sure to have a safe and happy holiday. Once Christmas is over and you are ready to take the tree down, discard of it properly. Do not burn it in your fireplace. Pine is a soft wood and contributes to creosote buildup in chimneys, which may prove to be a fire hazard. Call your local sanitation department and find out what you should do with your tree.
Many people prefer real trees to artificial ones. They smell wonderful, they are relatively inexpensive and they don't take up precious storage space. In addition, every year brings a new tree. However, real trees are more hazardous than artificial ones and therefore should be treated with great caution and the utmost care.
This season, have fun choosing your real tree, but be careful when you bring it home. Use common sense and make the holiday a safe and happy one.
Christmas will be here before you know it. This year, you've decided to take up a tradition your family practiced when you were kid and buy a real tree. No more lugging the artificial tree out of the attic and struggling to put it together. Of course, a real tree will be messier, but you're prepared to deal with that. How prepared are you, though, to deal with the hazards involved in having a real tree?
Real Christmas trees in general pose more hazards than artificial ones simply because they are alive and can catch on fire easily. Experts advise individuals getting a real tree to choose one carefully and find one that doesn't lose green needles when tapped upon the ground. Once you have found the perfect tree, follow these safety tips:
o Remove an inch from the trunk to ensure the tree absorbs water.
o Use a tree stand that holds at least a gallon of water and make sure it is clean. A cupful of bleach with a cupful of water makes a great cleaning agent.
o Mix a commercial preservative with the water for the tree and check the water level every day. A six-foot tree will usually require a gallon of water every other day.
o Secure the tree with wire to prevent it from falling over.
o Place the tree in an area away from heat sources.
o Do not use candles on the tree. Use UL-listed miniature lights instead. They are safer and have cool-burning bulbs.
o Don't link more than three strands of lights together.
o Turn off the lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
Follow these tips and you're sure to have a safe and happy holiday. Once Christmas is over and you are ready to take the tree down, discard of it properly. Do not burn it in your fireplace. Pine is a soft wood and contributes to creosote buildup in chimneys, which may prove to be a fire hazard. Call your local sanitation department and find out what you should do with your tree.
Many people prefer real trees to artificial ones. They smell wonderful, they are relatively inexpensive and they don't take up precious storage space. In addition, every year brings a new tree. However, real trees are more hazardous than artificial ones and therefore should be treated with great caution and the utmost care.
This season, have fun choosing your real tree, but be careful when you bring it home. Use common sense and make the holiday a safe and happy one.
