MOLINE, Ill. — Getting together with friends and family is one of the best parts of the holiday season. But as St. Nick's visit gets closer and closer, the Red Cross wants to make sure community members are safe in the meantime.
Over the course of a single week, officials with the Red Cross say they helped a total of 16 people involved in house fires in Moline, Rock Island and Keokuk. Experts say those types of incidents are unfortunately common during the holidays.
“December is the peak time for home fires involving candles and holiday decorations,” Adam Runkle with the Illinois Red Cross said. “Help protect your family by using battery-operated candles and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”
Here are some additional tips from the Red Cross' experts on how to keep your holiday celebrations safe and festive:
- If you must use candles, keep them away from anything that could burn, and place them out of reach of pets and children. Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord.
- Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
- If buying an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
- If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. To test if the tree is fresh, bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
- Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings or other decorations on the mantel.
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