Shorewood Allstate Insurance Andrew McCabe Offers Christmas Tree Safety Tips For A Brighter Holiday

For many people, decorating the Christmas tree is a favorite part of the holiday and adds to the spirit of Christmas. However, with the addition of a Christmas tree to your home, the risk of fire and other household accidents increases. Each year home fires and other accidents during the holiday season injure 2,000 individuals and cause over $500 million in damage.

“There are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday,” says Andrew McCabe, Allstate agent. “By following these steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday casualty.”

The National Safety Council offers the following safety tips to ensure a fire or other accident doesn't spoil your holiday season:

Christmas trees
• A real tree can fill your home with beauty and the scent of pine. But a real tree can also pose a fire hazard. Select a fresh tree by looking for one that is green. The needles of pines and spruces should bend and not break and should be hard to pull off the branches. On fir species, a needle pulled from a fresh tree will snap when bent, much like a fresh carrot. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.
• Stand your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Make sure the tree does not block foot traffic or doorways.
Tree lights
• Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights only outdoors. Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.
• Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.
Tree ornaments
• Read labels before you use materials that comes in jars, cans and spray cans.
• Do not hang popcorn chains and candy canes on the tree when small children are present. They may think that other tree ornaments are also edible.

For more information on this and other safety topics, contact Andrew McCabe at 414-961-1166 or www.allstate.com/andrewmccabe