KINCAID POLICE DEPARTMENT

General tips:

• Buy/use only lighting sets and extension cords that bear the Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) label and are specifically marked for indoor use.

• Make certain you take time to unroll/untangle and inspect each set of lights —new or old— for worn insulation, bare/frayed wires, broken or cracked sockets, and loose connections. If you find any such damage, do not try to repair the set. Throw it away. Replace broken/damaged lamps/bulbs (and unplug the set prior to changing lamps/bulbs!)

• Be careful not to overload electrical outlets. Always look for the manufacturer's recommendations on the number of light sets that can be strung together and other precautions listed on the packaging for the lights. If no manufacturer's instructions are available, as a general rule, never string more than three sets of lights per single extension cord.

• Protect the electrical wires from damage. Don't run lights/wires behind drapes, under carpet, through doorways, or where they will be walked on. Don't use nails or tacks to hang wires. Plastic non-conductive "hangers" are available for various holiday light-set hanging needs.

• Always unplug lights before doing any maintenance work on them.

Outdoor lighting considerations:

• Buy/use only lighting sets and extension cords that bear the Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) label and are specifically marked for outdoor use.

• Always look for the manufacturer's recommendations on the number of lights sets that can be strung together and other precautions listed on the packaging for the lights.

• Check all light sets for fraying, aging, and heat damage. Throw away any sets that show signs of damage.

• Connect sets of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into an outlet.

• Always test your light sets before setting up your ladder —replacing broken/burnt-out bulbs is much easier on the ground than on a ladder/roof!

• To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples; do not use nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove or disconnect them.

• Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with GFI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protection to avoid potential shocks.

• If you are using a ladder, avoid contact with overhead power lines when setting up your ladder, stringing lights, or working on the roof.
  
  

• Wherever extension cords and light sets are connected together outdoors, keep the connections dry by wrapping them with friction tape or plastic.

Tree Safety:

Fresh Trees —When selecting your tree, make sure to shake the tree vigorously, tap it on the ground, and watch for excessive loss of needles. If the tree loses a lot of needles, it's already drying out, and a dry tree significantly increases the risk of the tree catching fire in your home. The trunk butt should be sticky with resin. Fresh trees should be green and the needles should be difficult to pull from the branches. Another good test is to take a single needle and bend it between your fingers. The needle should bend, not break. 

• Once you've selected a fresh tree and gotten it home, secure it in a sturdy stand and provide it with adequate water. At holiday time, many stores carry products designed to help you keep track of when your tree needs water. Keeping your tree well-watered will keep it supple so it retains its needles, making for less cleanup after the holidays and a lesser fire danger. Be sure to keep the stand filled with water because both cut and live trees dry out rapidly in heated rooms.

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
   
  (Hopefully you won't even find "leaded" metal products available anywhere! For more information about lead-poisoning, click here to jump to the CDC's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program website, which includes lists of current product recalls involving lead.).

• Artificial Trees —If you're considering an artificial tree, the most important thing to look for is the "Fire Resistant" label. This means the tree has been treated with a chemical that makes it resist burning — It does not mean the tree can't, or won't, catch on fire. NEVER use electric lights on metallic trees — use spotlights for illumination. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

• Greens —Evergreen (but NEVER cedar) cuttings may be used in limited quantities, but keep greens away from heat sources (radiators, air vents, large appliances, light receptacles, etc.) and don't smoke near trees or greens. To be as safe as possible, greens/cuttings used for door adornment or for corridor/stairwell decorations (or really for use anywhere other than as a table centerpiece) should be flameproofed by flocking or other treatment.

Tree Lighting —Decorate the tree first, and plug in the lights last.

• Try to insure your lamps/bulbs don't touch the tree or other decorations. Take time to unroll/untangle and carefully inspect each set of lights before stringing it on the tree. It's easier to find and replace broken and burnt-out bulbs before stringing your lights on the tree! (And if a light set doesn't work at all, better to know so before it's on the tree, too!)

• Turn off or unplug your indoor holiday lighting whenever the decorated area of the house is unattended –-not just when going to bed or leaving the house. Nowadays, relatively cheap wired and wireless "remote control" switches are available to ease this task (and keep you from having to crawl/bend behind a Christmas tree or furniture to unplug a lighting set/scene.) Outdoor lighting timers and remote-control sets are also available and should be considered.
  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. When using candles for holiday accents, always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they cannot be overturned.
  • In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable; keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
  • Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
  • Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas promptly after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child, or can ignite if near a heat source.
   

  Live Tree & Greens/Cuttings Removal — Live trees and greens/cuttings should be removed as soon as practical after the holiday for which they were used.

   

  Candle Safety Tips:

  • Make sure candles are placed in sturdy, non-combustible holders that will not tip, away from decorations, drapes, and other combustible materials.
  • Check your candles frequently to make sure they don't burn down too far or drip hot wax.
  • Keep small children away from candles and never leave children unattended in a room with lit candles.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
  • Do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
  • Keep Yule Logs, Menorahs and Kinaras away from drapes, trees or any other potentially flammable objects.
  • Extinguish candles and turn off decorative lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
  • For holiday decorating, you should purchase/use only materials labeled as noncombustible, flame-resistant, or flame-retardant. Locate all decorations and decorating materials away from heat sources.
  • These materials should never be used for holiday decorations, under any circumstances, because they are inherently combustible and/or cannot be flameproofed: bamboo, cedar trees/branches, corn stalks/shucks, cotton or confetti (loose, in large quantities), dry moss/leaves, flammable powders/liquids, hay/straw (loose or baled), paper streamers (serpentine), plastic sheeting/pellets, sawdust, tumbleweeds, wood bark/shavings
  • Keep holiday plants such as mistletoe, holly berries, and Christmas cactus away from children and pets.
    
    Poinsettias — Previously considered a poisonous plant, recent studies have shown that the poinsettia is nontoxic. Ingestion of small amounts may result in mild gastrointestinal irritation (upset stomach) and could make pets very sick.
  
  

  Toy Safety
  —Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.

  • Tips to help choose appropriate toys for children:
    
    • Magnets — For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
    • Small Parts — For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
    • Ride-on Toys — Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit.
    • Projectile Toys — Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries. For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
    • Chargers and Adapters — Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

     

  • Be a label reader when shopping for toys! Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide. And, before allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
  • To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.
  • Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
  • Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
  • Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous playthings.
  • Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.