To keep your holiday season joyful, take a few moments to review these safety suggestions

  • Published
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  · Be sure to test your smoke detectors.

· Keep kitchen clutter away from the stove and oven.

· Be extra careful with matches and candles.

· Avoid loose, flammable clothing. Clothing often catches on fire around candles, matches, fireplaces and stoves (both electric and gas).

· Keep decorations away from sources of heat such as open flames, electric heaters.
Christmas Trees

· Keep your Live Christmas tree in a sturdy base filled with water and check daily.

· Spraying the Christmas tree with a flame retardant is always a good idea.

· Make a fresh cut on the trunk of your tree and place in a sturdy holder.

· Place the tree away from heat sources, such as fireplaces and heaters.

· Do not use candles on or near the tree.

· Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously dry, however never burn tree or tree parts in your fireplace.
Christmas Lights

· Purchase only Underwriters Laboratory approved lights.

· Check all indoor and outdoor lights for frayed cords, replace if necessary.

· Never use lights that have an empty socket.

· Lights should not touch combustible materials.

· Use only outdoor lights for "outdoors."

· Turn off all Christmas lights, prior to leaving your home or going to bed.

· Mini lights are safest because they produce less heat.

· Do not overload electrical circuits, such as wall outlets or extension cords, use a circuit strip.
Christmas Wrappings

· Keep combustible materials away from heat sources.

· Never burn wrappings in your fireplace.

Reminder: Air Force Instruction says live Christmas trees are prohibited inside government facilities. Family housing is authorized to use live Christmas trees.