A bright and safe holiday season for all

2007-12-06

With the holiday season upon us, our neighbourhoods and homes begin to fill with decorative lights.

The warmth and hope of holiday trimmings, Christmas trees and menorahs, go a long way to warming-up a winter’s night. Unfortunately, the potential safety hazards associated with holiday decorating, can all-too-quickly, turn holiday festivities into tragedy.

Fire statistics throughout Canada show a higher risk of residential fires during this season. In Alberta, between 1998 and 2002, the province’s Emergency Services department recorded a 30 per cent increase in the number of fires from December 15 to 31. It also reported that the number of fire deaths increased by 40 per cent, and that the number of fire injuries increased by 37 per cent in the same time period.

Also, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) in Ontario attributes an annual rise in the number of fires and fire deaths to such factors as increased cooking activity, holiday decorations and the use of heating equipment.

Chris Slosser, an OFM program specialist, says fire fatalities tend to peak between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31. During that period of 2004-2005, the province had 35 fire-related deaths, and fires killed 25 people during those same three months in 2005-2006.

“With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it seems people can be a little less careful, and it can result in tragedy,” Slosser says.

According to Slosser, the 2007-2008 holiday season has started-out grimly, with eight fire-related deaths recorded in the first two weeks of November.

Fortunately, with standards and a little extra care, the risks can be managed.

Suzanne Robillard, the communications media program coordinator for the Canada Safety Council says there are many things people can do to make sure their electric holiday decorations are hung with care.

She recommends people only use strings-of-lights that carry the certification mark of an organization that is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).

“Any lights you buy (for the holidays), you should definitely look for certification marks,” she says.

The reason, she explains, is because these products have been tested extensively to ensure safety components work together to prevent a fire.

Rae Dulmage, the director of Standards and Government Relations at ULC, says the tests are geared towards ensuring the products’ construction is safe.

“Most of the testing that goes into a product is to see what would happen if a component fails,” he says. “If a component is overloaded, does the whole thing shut down properly or does it overheat? That’s what we look for.”

The marks themselves aren’t enough to ensure the products are safe, Robillard says. She says consumers need to read the manufacturer’s instructions included in the lights’ packaging, so as to ensure they use the lights as intended.

“If you’re going string lights outside, make sure they’re certified for outdoor use,” she explains. “Indoor lights lack weatherproof connections, so they shouldn’t be used outdoors.”

On the other hand, she says, outdoor lights may burn too hotly for use on an indoor tree and become a fire hazard.

“So lights should be used for what they’re designed,” she adds. “Reading the labels is very important.”

Also important, is checking that last year’s strings of lights are still in good condition. Robillard says people should inspect each set of lights for damage and wear, such as cracked bulbs, damaged or frayed wire casings, and exposed wires. If bulbs are cracked, people should replace them. If the wire casing is damaged, it’s best to dispose of them.

While Robillard understands that people may think this is wasteful, she says, “it’s really not worth the risk of keeping them if they’re no longer safe.”

Another potential safety risk during the holidays is often the result of overloaded electrical outlets. When decorating their homes, particularly Christmas trees, people can be tempted to plug too many strings of lights into the nearest outlet. This can be disastrous.

Robillard says a much safer alternative is to use a power bar with many outlets, and a surge protector switch that will cut-off the power flow should it overheat.

Again, the power bar should carry a recognized certification mark to show that it meets safety standards.

”We know that during this time of year, money can be tight, and people might be tempted to buy some cheaper power distribution items,” says Slosser. “But the extra $10 or $20 it would cost to buy cords and power bars that are certified is really worth spending when it comes down to the safety of your family and the safety of your home.”

Dulmage says while the strong Canadian dollar may tempt shoppers to save money by purchasing light strings, extension cords and power bars in the United States, it is important that they verify the certification marks on their purchases.

“Some areas of electrical testing are not the exact same in the States as they are here,” he says. “Also, we have slightly different electrical codes.”

For that reason, he says, consumers need to make sure the electrical products they buy are certified for use in Canada.

Safety consciousness can extend into holiday gift-giving, says Robillard. The Canada Safety Council offers gift ideas such as first-aid kits and winter emergency kits for cars, as well as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, also bearing certification marks. These make good gifts because they are often not something people think to buy for themselves, and there is a strong message of caring behind the gift itself.

“These gift suggestions represent a gesture that reflects true concern and caring for the safety and well-being of your loved ones,” she says. “These gifts may very well end up saving a life.”

 

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