Christmas Safety | iSi Environmental

Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a time for accidents.

Keep Real Trees Watered: The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be deadly. Keep your tree well-watered. Water levels should never get below the base of the tree. Unplug lights before watering.

Sockets and Outlets: Water and debris can get into outdoor sockets, so make sure outdoor lights are plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of shorts and shocks. Hire a licensed electrician if you need to install GFCI outlets. Make sure you only use one plug per outlet and do not exceed the wattage rating for the outlet.

Extension Cords: Keep an eye on extension cords, as they can occasionally overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it. When running extension cords along the ground, make sure to elevate plugs and connectors with a brick to keep snow, water and debris out of the connections.

Turn Christmas Lights Off: Don’t leave Christmas lights running when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house.

Keep an Eye on Candles: Make sure you don’t leave your candles unattended, or burn them close to other decorations. Consider using the battery-powered ones.

Walkways: Keep on top of removing wrapping paper, toys, boxes and other debris from walkways.

Scissors and Knives: Some gifts that come in plastic clam shells, Aunt Tami’s overzealous tape jobs, and others with plastic fasteners may require a knife or a pair of scissors. Make sure to use knife safety principles and don’t let children use them.

Lights on for Guests: If you have overnight guests, keep a light on in hallways to allow them to navigate to the bathroom without tripping.

Fireplaces: Keep trees, wreaths, greeting cards, and the wrapping paper away from and out of the fireplace as they can quickly ignite. Use a screen to contain any flying sparks. Make sure your chimney has been swept if you haven’t used it in a while.

Batteries: Take all batteries out of decorations before storing them. Have some spare batteries available for electronics. Don’t leave batteries sitting on the mantle, by the fireplace or near stoves or open flames. The heat can spark them or make them explode.

Food: Don’t leave food out on buffets for hours on end, no one wants food poisoning as a party favor. Cover and refrigerate anything that could spoil within an hour. Keep kids and pets out of the kitchen when cooking (hot stoves, knives, trip hazard potential). Make sure you take allergies and dietary restrictions into account.

Alcohol: Try to keep track of what you take in and make sure you count any puddings or foods that contain alcohol into your calculations. If you have multiple events to attend, try to give your liver a day’s break between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the fire safety hazards associated with real Christmas trees and electrical lights?

Real Christmas trees become increasingly flammable as they dry, and dry needles can ignite rapidly if electrical shorts occur. The combination of water near electrical lights and connections creates shock and fire hazards. Trees must be kept well-watered with water levels never dropping below the tree base, and lights should be unplugged before watering. Electrical connections for outdoor lights must be protected with ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets to prevent electrical shorts. The Consumer Product Safety Commission emphasizes keeping trees away from heat sources and turning lights off when unattended.

Q: What are GFCI outlet requirements for indoor and outdoor Christmas light safety?

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are required for any outdoor electrical circuits in wet locations such as ground-level outlets exposed to water, snow, or debris. GFCI outlets automatically shut off power if they detect ground faults that could cause electric shock. All outdoor Christmas lighting should be plugged into GFCI-protected circuits. Only one plug should be used per outlet to avoid overloads, and wattage ratings must not be exceeded. Licensed electricians should install GFCI outlets to ensure proper electrical safety. iSi Environmental can assess workplace electrical safety for holiday events and decorations.

Q: What precautions must be taken with extension cords used for Christmas lighting?

Extension cords can overheat if overloaded and should be touched occasionally to verify they are not excessively hot. Cords should not be kinked or damaged. When running extension cords along the ground, elevate plugs and connectors with bricks to prevent water, snow, and debris from entering electrical connections. Damaged cords should be replaced immediately. Never leave extension cords unattended while powered. These precautions prevent electrical fires and shock hazards. iSi Environmental helps workplaces establish safe holiday electrical practices.

Q: What food safety precautions must be followed for holiday gatherings and buffets?

Foods that require refrigeration should not be left unattended at room temperature for more than one hour (or two hours if above 90°F). Perishable items must be covered and refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth and foodborne illness. Allergens and dietary restrictions must be clearly labeled or communicated to guests. Separate cutting boards should be used for raw meats and ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. Kitchen safety includes keeping children and pets away from hot stoves, sharp knives, and trip hazards. FDA food safety guidelines apply to workplace holiday events and gatherings.

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