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CPSC Gives Consumers a Holiday Home Decorating Safety Guide.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The winter holiday season has arrived, and as consumers prepare to make their homes merry and bright, CPSC is providing a holiday decorating guide to help prevent fires and injuries this season. The common-sense safety tips include simple steps, such as careful candle placement and inspection of holiday lights for damage.
During November and December, CPSC staff estimates that, on average, about 12,000 consumers are treated in hospital emergency departments nationwide due to holiday-related decorating incidents. In addition, dried out Christmas trees are involved in hundreds of fires, resulting in an average of 17 deaths and $13 million in property damage annually. Candle related residential fires attended by fire departments are associated with an estimated annual average of 150 deaths and $385 million in property damage.
The good news is that these hazards in the home are preventable, and CPSC is providing consumers with a guide to a safer holiday.
