ESFi: Celebrate the Holiday Season Safely

Home Heating Fire Prevention Tips
Heating equipment caused an estimated 50,500 home fires and 500 deaths between 2013 and 2017 according to the National Fire Protection Association. Learn how to stay safe with these tips (click here).

Prevent Holiday Fires
To avoid any holiday fires follow these tips:

• If you have young children or guests visiting your home, install tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs).
• It is estimated that arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) can prevent 50% of home electrical fires.
• Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI)s, and AFCIs monthly to ensure that they are working properly.
• Power strips and extension cords can deliver power right where you need it but plugging in too many devices can overload your home’s electrical system. Do not use extension cords on a permanent basis.
• Look and listen for warning signs of an overloaded electrical system, such as buzzing sounds from switches or outlets, discolored outlets, and more.
• Only use electronics in dry areas.

Click here for more holiday safety information.

In the Right Light
Decorate safely by following these tips:

• Never leave decorations on while sleeping or away from home.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree will be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. Water your tree daily.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label.
• Only use electrical decorations and lights that have been approved for safe use by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
• Carefully inspect electrical decorations before use.
• Keep all decorations three feet away from heat sources.
• Keep young children away from holiday lights, electrical decorations, and extension cords to prevent electrical shock and burn injuries.
• Avoid plugging too many holiday lights and decorations into a single outlet. Overloaded outlets can overheat and cause fires.
• Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, which could damage the cord and cause a fire.

Click here for more tips.

Happy Holidays From ESFI
Click here for a holiday video from ESFI.