It’s October and Halloween is going to be here before we know it. I have always loved Halloween because I just love an excuse to dress up. Underwriter’s Laboratory is offering up some steps on how to be safe on Halloween.
How to Create a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween
For families across the country, Halloween is the official launch of the holiday and decorating season, which is why it is important for parents to recognize the potential safety hazards that may be associated with many of the season’s celebratory activities.
1. Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets when using lights to decorate the home for Halloween. When hanging lights, use plastic hooks or clips to reduce the risk of electric shock and fire hazards. Never nail or staple light strings.
2. Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire, such as decorations, window treatments and paper. Halloween is the fifth highest day for reported candle fires. Candles are the cause of approximately 15,000 reported house fires every year.
3. Look for flame resistant labels when purchasing costumes, fabric and accessories. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the fabric will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.
Then after Halloween it always feels like November and December just fly by with Holidays and things to do. Growing up, I had a huge family. I have two moms and two dads and each of them have four/five siblings so visiting everyone was always a huge ordeal, but still fun. So I know that you will all be very busy this Holiday Season and I wanted to share UL’s tips on staying safe for the rest of the year!
Serve Up a Side of Safety This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the No. One day for home fires, which isn’t surprising since Americans will roast, bake, brine, grill and even deep fry more than 45 million turkeys on November 26. This Thanksgiving, UL is offering these simple cooking safety tips to help keep cooks safe in the kitchen, regardless of their level of expertise!
1. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.
2. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it: Make sure the fire extinguisher is rated for grease fires and electrical fires and read the directions carefully. The acronym P.A.S.S. can help make sure you use it properly.
· Pull the pin; Aim the spray nozzle low at the base of the fire; Squeeze the nozzle to spray the contents; Sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.
3. Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread.
Last but not least is “The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year”, Christmas. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and all of the festivities around that!
Wrap Up the Year Safely This Holiday Season
Between finding the perfect gift for loved ones, trimming the tree and sprucing up the house with festive decorations, safety can easily be overlooked during the holiday season. That’s why UL is reminding families to take a few minutes to think about the most precious gift of all when celebrating the holidays – safety.
4. A fresh tree is key: If the needles are not fresh, it can lead to a greater risk of fire. Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. Place tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water and check moisture level frequently.
5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
6. Read manufacturer instructions: When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together. Light strings with screw-in bulbs should never have more than 50 bulbs connected together.
7. Examine packaging: Parents should thoroughly examine new gifts, especially if they have young children at home. Pay particular attention to products in boxes or packages that do not offer the following:
· A brand name
· Manufacturer’s name with contact information for reporting problems with the product
Enter to Win:
UL picnic basket loaded with UL goodies
To Enter:
Leave a comment telling me which of the tips is most useful to you!
This is not a sponsored giveaway and it ends October 25th.
I always forget to inspect the decorations whenever I get them out of storage.
Check the cord for indoor or outdoor use!
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
Examine Packaging is very important
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. This is always a good thing to remember.
A fresh tree is key
I think the reminder of checking your electrical outlets, wires, cords etc..is very helpful and a good reminder..So many fires happen every year that are preventable!!
Corinne
ckurzmann@yahoo.com
I like the tip not to pour water on a grease fire. I never knew water could actually help a fire spread. tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com
I didn’t realize that UL marked the cords with indoor or outdoor use labels.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it.
I liked the tip: Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark. I didn’t know that there were separate marks.
smchester at gmail dot com
i forget to check the lights before i put them up great reminder
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking is the most useful – I’ve experienced what can happen if you walk away!
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking
I always tend to wander around the house doing other chores…
Thank you for the giveaway. Not to pour water on a grease fire, this is something I didn’t know!
5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark
My favorite tip: Read manufacturer instructions: When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together
I had no idea….that’s a good rule to follow.
When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together.
Look for flame resistant labels.
staying in the kitchen when you are cooking, that is hard but smart.
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it, is my best tip to remember.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
The tip to string no more than three midget light string sets together is the most helpful to me. I use a lot of them and I didn’t know that limit.
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. I’ve done that before and it ended horribly.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
Look for the UL Mark. Trust the respected company.
The tip I found most useful is to Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets
6. Read manufacturer instructions means the most to me
Sweet blog and thank you for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
=]
The tip most useful to me is to, Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. These seems like a pretty common sense tip but I’m currently guilty of not having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Put that on my list of things to do today
I did not know about the different UL labels, that is a useful tip!
twincere[at]gmail.com
Do not pour water on a grease fire, you know for the longest time I thought you uses flour or salt to put out a grease fire, that is a no no too.
2. Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire, such as decorations, window treatments and paper-this one-for me -its very easy not to notice things like that-thanks
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. I know we have an extinguisher, I just don’t know where it is at the moment.
“Do not pour water on a grease fire” I need to ingrain this in my memory because it such a natural reaction for me to want to pour water on any kind of fire. Thanks!
Checking decorations when you get them out.
Not pouring water on a grease fire is most useful to me because I always forget that. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
The tip that is most useful to me is the Indoor/Outdoor tip. I did not realize that UL Plugs were marked with a different colored holographic label for indoor and outdoor usage.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
The P.A.S.S. acronym tip about fire extinguishers was helpful!
Under #6, they list some tips for safe usage of Christmas lights that I found very enlightening. No pun intended.
Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
I like all of your tips for inspecting for safety – toys and decoration packageings!
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Everyone should remember that especially ones with children!
I always check the lights and plugs before using!
I have to remember to inspect my decorations after I get them from the basement. suelee1998 @ gmail.com
fire extinguisher in the kitchen and KNOW how to use it
I think the 5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: tip is the one I care about the most.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Fire Extinguisher for the kitchen is so so important
Keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a great tip. My mom used to do this and we never needed it but felt alot safer having one.
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. I have more than once left the kitchen and forgot something was cooking. Ugh!
I found #2 most useful! I definitely keep a fire extinguisher in my kitchen. Just in case….
I like keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. I keep meaning to get one and then forgetting to do it.